ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is using a controversial Web Monitoring System (WMS) to block online applications and websites in Pakistan, according to a written response to parliament this week by the minister in charge of the cabinet division which has administrative control over PTA.
Millions of Pakistanis have faced a mysterious months-long Internet slowdown that has drawn backlash from activists and business leaders who believe the state is testing a firewall, a security system that monitors network traffic but can also be used to control online spaces. Pakistan has blamed the slowdown on damaged underwater cables.
Nearly half of the country’s population has faced problems in using and accessing social media platforms, including the popular WhatsApp. Pakistan has 110 million Internet users, and up to 40 percent slower Internet speeds have affected nearly half the country’s 241 million population.
In a written response to a question by Shahida Rehmani, a lawmaker from Sindh, the minister in-charge of the cabinet division, who is technically the prime minister, admitted to using a Web Monitoring System, which utilizes peep packet inspection technology to detect and block VPN traffic and allows the government to monitor all Internet traffic entering or leaving Pakistan.
“PTA has also deployed a Web Monitoring System (WMS) for Internet content management within its technical limits, through which applications/websites requiring blocking within Pakistan are blocked,” the written response to parliament dated Aug. 26 and seen by Arab News said.
“PTA so far has blocked 2,369 URLs and 183 Mobile Application involved in exposing personal data/identity information.”
The response said Clause 37 (1) of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 mandated that PTA block unlawful online content, especially if seen “necessary in the interest of Defense of Pakistan, Glory of Islam, Contempt of Court, Decency and Morality, Defamation, Child Pornography, Modesty of Natural Person, Dignity of Natural Person, Public Order, Hate Speech, Incitement to an Offense etc.”
The minister said despite geo-blocking at the gateway level, objectionable content could still be accessed through VPN.
“VPN users, who are bypassing the gateway through their private traffic, are also bypassing the state policy regarding banned content,” the response said. “PTA is registering VPN since December 2010, under the directive issued on 02 December 2010 (Annex-A), which was issued in accordance with Monitoring and Reconciliation of Telephonic Traffic (MRTT) Regulation 2010 clause.
“VPN is also used by legitimate businesses such as software houses, call center and foreign missions/embassies etc. for secure management of their private networks. Hence, to facilitate these legitimate users, while preventing their misuse, PTA has issued a public notice for registration of VPNs.”
The minister said various courts of law had also directed PTA to take all possible measures to ensure effective blocking of unlawful content.
“Based on complaints received from stakeholder organizations and the general public, PTA till date has blocked a total of 469 mobile 26 applications (435 Android and 34 Apple) related to various categories including applications “against the glory of Islam, indecent/immoral content and fraudulent activities.”
IT minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja has repeatedly said the government was not behind the Internet slowdown, blaming it on a surge in VPN use. She has also rejected that the planned firewall will be used for censorship purposes.
The Internet challenges come as Pakistan’s military — the country’s most powerful institution — says it is battling so-called “digital terrorism.” Independent analysts say the main target of the digital disruption is the party of jailed opposition leader Imran Khan, still wildly popular and boosted by a young, tech-savvy voter base.
Pakistan says using Web Monitoring System to block online content
https://arab.news/g2p46
Pakistan says using Web Monitoring System to block online content
- Millions of Pakistanis face mysterious months-long Internet slowdown that has drawn backlash from activists and business leaders
- Pakistani authorities have blamed the slowdown on damaged underwater cables and a surge in the use of VPNs
‘Reprehensible’: Pakistan says Afghan acting consul general ‘disrespected’ national anthem
- Foreign office says Afghan official acted against diplomatic norms by not standing up for national anthem
- Shakir was attending an Eid Milad-un-Nabi conference in Peshawar where the national anthem was played
ISLAMABAD: The foreign office said on Tuesday it was “reprehensible” that the Afghan Consul General in Peshawar, Hafiz Mohibullah Shakir, had remained seated as the Pakistani national anthem was played at a conference in Peshawar, saying he had disrespected the patriotic song.
Videos widely circulated on social media on Tuesday showed Shakir attending the Rehmat-ul-Alameen Conference hosted by Ali Amin Gandapur, the chief minister of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan. The event was held in the northwestern town of Peshawar to mark the occasion of Eid Milad-un-Nabi.
As the Pakistani national anthem was played and everyone in the room stood up in respect, Shakir and another Afghan colleague remained seated.
“The disrespect of host country’s national anthem is against diplomatic norms,” Foreign Office Spokeswoman Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in a statement. “This act of Acting Consul General of Afghanistan is reprehensible. We are conveying our strong protest to the Afghan authorities both in Islamabad and Kabul.”
The Afghan government or consulate have not yet commented on the issue.
Traditionally tense relations between Islamabad and Kabul have soured further in recent months amid a surge in militancy in Pakistan that it blames on its neighbor.
Islamabad says militants mainly associated with the Pakistani Taliban group frequently launch attacks from hideouts in Afghanistan, targeting police and other security forces. Islamabad has even blamed Kabul’s Afghan Taliban rulers for facilitating anti-Pakistan militants. Kabul denies the charges.
Last week, CM Gandapur said he would hold direct talks with Kabul’s Taliban rulers to take action against Afghanistan-based militant groups.
Punjab police raid Lahore home of ex-PM Khan aide — party
- Salman Akram Raja has been PTI secretary general since Sept. 2024, head of legal affairs since August
- Unclear why police raided Raja’s home and no confirmation of the operation from Punjab police force
ISLAMABAD: Several members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday confirmed raids by provincial police in Punjab on the home of senior party leader Salman Akram Raja.
Raja has been serving as the secretary general of the PTI since September 2024 and as the party’s head of legal affairs since August 2024. It was unclear why police had raided his home but many PTI top leaders have been arrested since the party held a rally on Sept. 8 to demand their leader’s release from prison. Authorities say a law related to public gatherings in the federal capital was violated during the rally.
“Shame on Punjab Police for raiding residence of Salman Akram Raja sb in Lahore. Alhamdulillah, he is safe,” lawyer Abuzar Salman Niazi, who is a member of the PTI Core Committee, said on X.
“Such unwarranted police raids show the desperation and shamelessness of this unlawful [government],” Lawyer and PTI leader from Multan, Taimur Malik, said on X. “This raid at Salman Akram Raja’s residence will only increase the resentment against this Govt in the public & legal community.”
There was no confirmation of the raids by Punjab police.
Earlier this week, PTI lawmakers arrested on Sept. 9 following the rally in Islamabad were ordered released by a local court. The legislators had been charged with violating the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act by holding a rally in Islamabad on Sept. 8 that went on longer than the designated time and in which one policeman was injured as PTI supporters clashed with authorities en route to the rally.
The PTI said a number of the lawmakers were detained from inside the parliament building, triggering protests and condemnation from the party. They were granted bail on Monday submission of surety bonds worth Rs30,000 [$100].
Following the arrests, the National Assembly speaker had opened an inquiry into the incident on Tuesday, citing that under Pakistani law, legislators cannot be detained from within the precincts of the parliament without the speaker’s permission.
Khan’s party alleges it has faced an over a year-long crackdown since protesters allegedly linked to the party attacked and damaged government and military installations on May 9, 2023, after Khan’s brief arrest that day in a land graft case.
Hundreds of PTI followers and leaders were arrested following the riots and many remain behind bars as they await trial. The military, which says Khan and his party were behind the attacks, has also initiated army court trials of at least 103 people accused of involvement in the violence.
Khan, who has been in jail since last August, was ousted from the PM’s office in 2022 in a parliamentary vote of no confidence after what is widely believed to be a falling out with Pakistan’s powerful military, which denies being involved in politics.
Since his removal, Khan and his party have waged an unprecedented campaign of defiance against the military and now the PTI is aiming to mobilize the public through rallies to call for their leader’s release from jail in “politically motivated” cases.
The party’s next rally is planned for Sept. 22 in the eastern city of Lahore.
After historic Pakistan win, Bangladesh Tests ‘no dress rehearsal’, says India’s Rohit
- India lead the World Test Championship standings ahead of Australia
- India will host Bangladesh in a two-Test series starting from Thursday
CHENNAI, India: Captain Rohit Sharma on Tuesday warned his India team there is “no dress rehearsal” in cricket as they face a Bangladesh side fresh from a historic Test series win over Pakistan.
India lead the World Test Championship (WTC) standings ahead of Australia, where Rohit’s team will tour for a five-match series later in the year.
But first they host Bangladesh in a two-Test series, starting with the opener in the northern Indian city of Chennai from Thursday.
India are clear favorites but the visitors recently celebrated a landmark 2-0 series sweep in Pakistan.
“There is no dress rehearsal kind of stuff happening here,” Rohit told reporters, cautioning against minds turning too quickly to Australia.
“Every game is important because of what is at stake — the WTC table is quite wide open,” Rohit added. “We want to win here, and start the season on a high.”
The skipper added: “In terms of preparation, in terms of readiness, I feel we are quite ready for this game, and what lies ahead of us.”
India’s last Test series was at home earlier this year when they beat England 4-1.
India won the T20 World Cup in June, their first International Cricket Council title in 11 years.
But there was “no way” his players would “relax and sit back” as a result, the 37-year-old Rohit said.
“Us cricketers, we have got limited time to play the game, to make an impact in the sport that we play,” he said.
India will host New Zealand for three Tests in October and November, before traveling to Australia, the current World Test champions.
“Every team likes to beat India. Let them have fun,” said Rohit of a Bangladesh team on a high after their first win over Pakistan.
“We need to win the match and that’s what we are here for.”
Paramilitary official killed while preventing armed robbery in Pakistani southern district
- Rangers team was on patrol when it encountered ongoing robbery attempt, inspector killed in exchange of fire
- Crime rates are high across Sindh, with over 60 percent of its crime taking place in the provincial capital of Karachi
KARACHI: A paramilitary Rangers official was killed while trying to prevent an armed robbery in Shaheed Benazirabad District on Tuesday, police said, amid a rise in crime in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province.
Tanveer Hussain Tunio, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in the district, told Arab News a Rangers team was on patrol duty when officers encountered an ongoing armed robbery attempt.
“They intervened to arrest the suspects, and during the exchange of fire, a Rangers officer got injured who later succumbed to his wounds during treatment at hospital,” the SSP said.
“Both suspects have been arrested, and an investigation is underway.”
The deceased official has been identified as Sharak Rizwan, according to a report on the incident submitted to the Sindh inspector general police.
“Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has saluted the sacrifice of Rangers Inspector Sharak, who was martyred in an attack by unknown assailants in Shaheed Benazirabad,” state news agency APP reported.
“Expressing heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, the Minister said during this time of grief, nation stands with the martyred inspector’s family and shares their grief.”
Crime rates are high across Sindh, with over 60 percent of crimes taking place in the provincial capital of Karachi, the country’s commercial hub and largest city.
The metropolis of 20 million that hosts the stock exchange and central bank has for decades been beset by armed violence. While an armed campaign led by the military against gangs and suspected militants in the city brought down crime rates after 2013, violence and crime rates have been on the rise again since last year, with shooting deaths in muggings and robberies once again becoming a daily headline.
In July, Karachi was ranked by Forbes as the second-riskiest city for tourists, with a rating of 93.12 out of 100, second only to Venezuela’s Caracas, which had a score of 100, while Myanmar’s Yangon ranked third with a score of 91.67 out of 100.
According to data from the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee, at least 90 people have been killed in street crimes in Karachi this year while at least 50,000 crimes were reported in Karachi between January and August.
Pakistan clinch Asian hockey bronze medal, India beat China in final
- This is India’s fifth Asian Champions Trophy title
- Pakistan won 5-2 against Korea to end their campaign
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan scored a stunning 5-2 win against Korea to end their campaign at the Hero Asian Champions Trophy with a bronze medal on Tuesday at the Moqi Hockey Training Base in China, the International Hockey Federation said, as India defeated China in the final of the tournament.
It was goals by Sufyan Khan, Hannan Shahid, and Rooman that led to Pakistan’s victory while Jungjun Lee and Jihun Yang scored for Korea.
After a poor start, Pakistan, who were handed a disappointing loss in the semifinal by hosts China, made great amends to their game to bounce back in the second half of the match to clinch a thriller.
“We are very happy to finish the tournament on a good note. Definitely, it would have been great if we had won yesterday’s match (against China) and played the final against India today but we made a number of errors,” Sufyan Khan was quoted as saying after the game by the International Hockey Federation.
“Today, we didn’t start very well but during the half-time break, our Head Coach Tahir Zaman shook us up in his own style and instilled confidence that we can bounce back.”
Meanwhile, the Indian Men’s Hockey Team registered an emphatic 4-1 win over Korea in the semifinal of the championship and advanced to the final against China, whom they beat 1-0, thus retaining their Asian Champions Trophy crown.
Jugraj Singh scored the only goal of the match in the 51st minute, after a frustrating game for India, as they came up against a well-organized, stubborn Chinese defense.
This is India’s fifth Asian Champions Trophy title.
