ISLAMABAD ( BMZ REPORT )
In order to review the implementation of IT & Telecom related provisions of National Action Plan (NAP), a meeting was convened at Ministry of Information Technology & Telecom (MoIT). The meeting was chaired by the Minister of State for IT Ms. Anusha Rahman. Secretary IT Mr. Azmat Ali Ranjha, Chairman PTA Syed Ismail Shah, Member (Telecom) Mr. Mudassar Hussain, Member (Legal) Mrs. Ameena Sohail and representatives from Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Religious Affairs, PEMRA, NITB, FIA, NTISB, security agencies etc were also present in the meeting.
Besides expressing satisfaction on the progress made in the SIM Reverification exercise as well as completion of work on the revamp of the draft Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill 2015 with NAP, and sent to NA standing committee, the matter of curbing hate material and that glorifying terrorism on internet and particularly social media also came under discussion. The stakeholders were apprised that in pursuance of Islamabad High Court (IHC) orders and the disbanding of the IMC for Evaluation of Websites, the sole responsibility of content management has already been tasked to the PTA. In post IMC dissolution scenario, only PTA can take action on the complaints of blasphemous, pornographic, terrorism related, hate speech, anti-state content etc on internet. In current scenario each relevant ministry/department should have its own unit and an authorized focal person to interface with PTA for forwarding any such complaints after their thorough evaluation, so that appropriate implementation of NAP could be ensured. These units will refer such complaints/ material or websites with specific URLs to PTA so that PTA could take action within the ambit of law as required. PTA will also establish liaison with social media platforms and will be point of contact on behalf of government of Pakistan in this regard. A complaint cell is already functional at PTA for evaluation of complaints received from general public. This mechanism will be further reviewed after final order of IHC on the subject.