The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has asked citizens on Sunday to be vigilant against spread of illegal content on the Internet saying misuse of digital platforms will not be tolerated.
In an official statement, the authority upheld once again that freedom of expression is a fundamental right of every individual. However, it stressed that this right does not mean the promotion and dissemination of unlawful material in the name of free speech.
The PTA emphasised the fact that content involving blasphemy and disrespect towards religions and religious figures are punishable offences under the law. It further emphasised on the fact that hate speech and propaganda against national institutions can also be subject to legal action.
According to the authority, the circulation of obscene or immoral material and circulation of fake news are criminal offences and will be dealt strictly according to the law.
The PTA’s commitment to ensuring that digital spaces are responsible and within legal limitations has been underlined with this statement.
In a separate development, the PTA unveiled an important initiative to facilitate overseas Pakistanis by helping them overcome the issues of getting their mobile SIM card activated and ensuring they are not blocked while their stay abroad.
In a post on social media, the authority said that as part of its commitment towards uninterrupted telecom services, it has implemented measures to enable members of Pakistani diaspora to protect their SIM cards while staying outside the country.
Under this facility, the subscribers can retain their ownership of their mobile SIMs for a certain period by intimating their respective cellular companies and paying the-related charges.
The initiative is aimed to ensure uninterrupted access to telecom services and allow the overseas Pakistanis to have un-disrupted connection with their loved ones within Pakistan.
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