152 blasphemous Facebook pages blocked: interior ministry

ISLAMABAD - Authorities have blocked 152 pages Facebook pages featuring blasphemous content and have placed eight suspects on the Exit Control List (ECL), said Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar on Monday.

It was stated in a written reply by Minister for Interior to a question raised during the 4th sitting of the 41st session of National Assembly. The Lower House was informed that the matter has been taken up with relevant US authorities to help close down blasphemous social media platform and trace the persons involved.

“The matter has been taken up with relevant US authorities to help close down blasphemous social media platform and trace out the persons involved,” Nisar told the National Assembly.

He said that three accused persons have been arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and eight persons were placed on Exit Control List (ECL).

Nisar said he held meeting with ambassadors of Muslim countries for orchestrating an effective collective response from the Muslim countries against social media pages that host blasphemous material.

He said that Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent letters to Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) and the Arab League in order to solicit a collective effort. He added that Facebook authorities have been requested to visit Pakistan for speedy action against blasphemous sites.

He said the interior secretary and chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) held a video conference with Facebook authorities to find out permanent solution against the menace of blasphemy on April 7.

“The PTA chairman has contacted his counterparts in brotherly Muslim countries for formulating a collective response against blasphemous sites,” he added.