Bytesforall Pakistan ICT Policy Monitor Network

P@SHA and Bytes for All seeking proposals for projects that address the intersection between VAW & ICTs. A project supported by the MDG3 Fund and implemented by the Association for Progressive Communications Women's Networking and Support Programme (APC-WNSP).

As part of our work in Pakistan the APC WNSP, through P@SHA and Bytes for All, are calling for proposals for projects that seek to address the intersection between violence against women and girls, and/or to stop violence against women and girls through the strategic use of information and communication technologies (ICTs).

Bytes for All and its members vehemently denounce the ongoing media ban in Pakistan, which has been imposed since 7th August 2010. Banning media is against fundamental rights of the citizens enshrined in the constitution of the country.

We understand that this media ban is exercised just to cover up the incident of shoe hurling on Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, the President of Pakistan.

Bytes for All welcomes Lahore High Court's decision to cancel the orders to ban the search engines. However, the openness of Internet is in danger due to the dubious monitoring plans of Pakistan Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (PTA). We hope that court will take notice of this situation and order the policy regime, which is favorable regarding access to information and freedom of expression for all.

Bytes for All condemn the blasphemous material on the Internet and call for international powers to intervene to help promote inter-religion harmony, respect and peace among all religions in the world. However, we can not support the blocking of Internet as it blocks the medium and access of concerned citizens, who wish to raise their voices against such blasphemy and sacrilegious content.

As per various print and online media news, the Lahore High Court has directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to block nine websites for publishing and promoting sacrilegious material.

APCNews: ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, 23 June 2010: Since May 20, Pakistan has experienced a wave of strict internet content control with thousands of web pages blocked following a Facebook campaign inviting users to “Draw Muhammad”. The Facebook campaign pushed Pakistani authorities to actively engage in blocking and filtering internet content, leaving Pakistani citizens powerless against the online blanket ban. Further plans by the government to continue to filter any content it considers “objectionable” have been revealed in a confidential document obtained by APC member Bytes for All.

APC News: ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, 03 June 2010: After lifting the nationwide Facebook ban on May 31, the Lahore High Court directed authorities to devise methods to permanently block “blasphemous content” on the internet in Pakistan. “We believe that this order will be misused by the government to block citizens access to online activism and curb voices against corruption and corrupt practices by the government functionaries and that an open internet is essential in the fight for transparency,” says internet rights defender Bytes For All.

Pakistanis woke up today to find sites like Facebook and YouTube blocked after a government crackdown on “blasphemous” websites. APC member Bytes For All has issued the following statement through APC: