Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has directed all the country's Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block an internet Website www.YouTube.com, on account of showing highly blasphemous film.

The decision to the effect came after a meeting held at the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom in Islamabad. Senior representatives from the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Religious Affairs, Cabinet Division, FIA and PTA attended the meeting. YouTube, a video sharing website has been found to be running highly provocative and blasphemous anti Islamic video.

PTA believes that the said footage absolutely stands against the values of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence arousing deep anguish and distress across the Muslim world. Had not this highly profane and sacrilegious footage been banned, it has the potential to cause more unrest and possible loss of life and property across the country.

In view of the above, PTA as the sectorâ??s Regulator has directed countryâ??s ISPs to block the said website showing offensive visual footages. PTA will ensure blocking of the website keeping under consideration all the best practices and means so as to achieve the desired objectives without affecting the ones that are not concerned with the objectionable contents.

Nabiha Mahmood

Deputy Director (PR)