Pakistan.’’ 43 Video footage of suicide bombers, terrorists, and their victims was
banned. 44 PEMRA was now empowered to close any broadcast service in a ‘‘situation
of emergency’’ and to seize equipment or seal the premises of licensees ‘‘in the public
interest,’’ 45 with penalties expanded to include three years’ imprisonment and the
maximum fine increased from PKR 1 million to PKR 10 million. 46 For print media, the
Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Books Registration Ordinance, 2002 (XCIII of
2002) was amended to reflect the same content prohibitions and grant the government
the same emergency authority to shutter any publication for up to 30 days. 47 In April
2008, the MoIT introduced a bill to repeal these amended provisions, reduce the maximum fine to PKR 1 million, and abolish the provision banning broadcasts ‘‘against the
ideology of Pakistan.’’ 48
Musharraf did not take such an assiduous approach toward restricting online content during the emergency, although telephone and Internet access were intermittently cut. However, all privately owned radio and television stations were shut down,
some by force, 49 and cable operators were banned from broadcasting any national or
international news channels. 50 The Code of Conduct created after the emergency was
characterized as voluntary, 51 but most of these stations were allowed to resume broadcasting in December only after agreeing to abide by the Code of Conduct. 52 In December 2008, the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) announced that it would
formulate its code of conduct and self-regulate among its members. 53
Internet Surveillance
The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Ordinance requires ISPs to retain all traffic data for
at least 90 days and to provide it to the government upon request, or face fines and up
to six months’ imprisonment. 54 Providers may also be required to cooperate in the collection of real-time data (including traffic data) and to keep their involvement confidential. 55 The bill ostensibly focuses on the use of the Internet to commit acts of
terrorism, but its scope is broad enough that Pakistani bloggers and Reporters Without
Borders expressed concern over the impact on Internet freedom. 56
Pakistani media have reported that the PIE, which controls the international gateways, monitors all incoming and outgoing Internet traffic in Pakistan. This capability,
in addition to filtering, allows it to monitor and store all e-mails for a certain period of
time. 57 There are no reported cases of people imprisoned for their online activities, and
most Pakistani bloggers view government surveillance as more clumsy than frightening. At the same time, political events that generate unusual amounts of online chatter
and debate, including the suspension of Chief Justice Chaudry in March 2007, cause
bloggers and other users to worry about being censored or targeted. 58 After the imposition of de facto martial law in November 2007, several bloggers made arrangements to
have their blogs published outside of Pakistan. 59
494
Pakistan
banned. 44 PEMRA was now empowered to close any broadcast service in a ‘‘situation
of emergency’’ and to seize equipment or seal the premises of licensees ‘‘in the public
interest,’’ 45 with penalties expanded to include three years’ imprisonment and the
maximum fine increased from PKR 1 million to PKR 10 million. 46 For print media, the
Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Books Registration Ordinance, 2002 (XCIII of
2002) was amended to reflect the same content prohibitions and grant the government
the same emergency authority to shutter any publication for up to 30 days. 47 In April
2008, the MoIT introduced a bill to repeal these amended provisions, reduce the maximum fine to PKR 1 million, and abolish the provision banning broadcasts ‘‘against the
ideology of Pakistan.’’ 48
Musharraf did not take such an assiduous approach toward restricting online content during the emergency, although telephone and Internet access were intermittently cut. However, all privately owned radio and television stations were shut down,
some by force, 49 and cable operators were banned from broadcasting any national or
international news channels. 50 The Code of Conduct created after the emergency was
characterized as voluntary, 51 but most of these stations were allowed to resume broadcasting in December only after agreeing to abide by the Code of Conduct. 52 In December 2008, the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) announced that it would
formulate its code of conduct and self-regulate among its members. 53
Internet Surveillance
The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Ordinance requires ISPs to retain all traffic data for
at least 90 days and to provide it to the government upon request, or face fines and up
to six months’ imprisonment. 54 Providers may also be required to cooperate in the collection of real-time data (including traffic data) and to keep their involvement confidential. 55 The bill ostensibly focuses on the use of the Internet to commit acts of
terrorism, but its scope is broad enough that Pakistani bloggers and Reporters Without
Borders expressed concern over the impact on Internet freedom. 56
Pakistani media have reported that the PIE, which controls the international gateways, monitors all incoming and outgoing Internet traffic in Pakistan. This capability,
in addition to filtering, allows it to monitor and store all e-mails for a certain period of
time. 57 There are no reported cases of people imprisoned for their online activities, and
most Pakistani bloggers view government surveillance as more clumsy than frightening. At the same time, political events that generate unusual amounts of online chatter
and debate, including the suspension of Chief Justice Chaudry in March 2007, cause
bloggers and other users to worry about being censored or targeted. 58 After the imposition of de facto martial law in November 2007, several bloggers made arrangements to
have their blogs published outside of Pakistan. 59
494
Pakistan