ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s central moon sighting committee this week confirmed that it had not sighted the crescent for Muharram, adding that the country would observe the first of the Islamic month from Monday and Ashura on July 17. 

Muharram marks the beginning of the new year in the Islamic lunar calendar during which Shia Muslims across Pakistan hold gatherings and organize processions to pay homage to Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Hundreds of thousands take out processions across the country on Ashura, the 10th of Muharram, to mourn Hussain’s martyrdom in Karbala in present-day Iraq centuries ago. 

Pakistan’s Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee (RHC) met in Pakistan’s southwestern Quetta city on Saturday evening to spot the Muharram crescent. 

“The Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee has announced that the Crescent of Muharram-Ul-Haram 1446 AH was not sighted,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan said. 

“He [RHC chairman] said that the 1st Muharram-Ul-Haram will be on Monday and Ashura will be observed on 17th of this month.”

INTERNET SERVICES

Pakistan’s interior ministry said on Friday it had not yet decided whether it would suspend Internet services during the Islamic month. 

Militant groups have often targeted Muharram processions and imambargahs, killing hundreds of people in the past, but the Pakistani interior ministry said it had neither accepted nor rejected any request in this regard.

Pakistan’s largest Punjab province has also proposed a ban on all social media platforms from Muharram 6-11 due to security concerns, provincial information minister Azma Bukhari said on Friday.

Social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and TikTok will be suspended across Punjab to control hate material/misinformation, the provincial government said. 

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has developed a regulatory framework for over-the-top (OTT) services, including social media, digital streaming platforms and popular messaging apps, with the aim to exert greater control after eliciting feedback from stakeholders and finalizing it.
The PTA has posted a 14-page document containing all the provisions along with a list of questions for feedback.
The framework specifies three different kinds of OTT services, dealing with communication (such as Skype, WhatsApp and Facebook Messengers), application (like LinkedIn and X) and media (including YouTube, Netflix and Spotify).
It mentions the OTT authorization that these services will have to obtain from the PTA to maintain legal operations in the country.
“This OTT Authorization shall be valid for a period of fifteen (15) years,” it says. “The Licensed OTT Service Provider shall be required to enter into agreement with the TSPs [telecom service providers] licensees.”
It also mentions data localization, saying these services will not be able to store the personal data of local consumers beyond the country’s geographical territories without the PTA’s approval.
Additionally, it highlights the responsibility for the blocking of unlawful online content in accordance with “Section 37 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 and/or as determined by the Authority from time to time.”
The PTA has taken actions against platforms like TikTok, YouTube and Facebook in the past, citing reasons related to immoral, indecent and blasphemous content and even blocking these services.
This has also been criticized by free speech activists in the country that described such official decisions as a form of censorship and to stifle free expression and open access to information.
The final deadline for stakeholders to share their feedback with the telecom authority in July 10.