Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice (CJ) Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry directed the federal government on Friday to move the United Nations (UN) and the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) against display of blasphemous material by various social networking websites including “Facebook”.
Meanwhile, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed on a fresh petition against Facebook, summoned the deputy attorney general on May 18. The CJ, while hearing three separate petitions filed by the Islamic Lawyers Forum, Judicial Activism Panel and others, directed the inter-ministerial committee formed in 2006 by then prime minister to monitor the websites and take prompt action if any objectionable material concerning religious beliefs of any group was found.
The CJ said in case of failure, the authorities concerned would be taken to task while initiating disciplinary action against them. He condemned the attitude of the government functionaries for not responding to such material. He said the inter-ministerial committee and a crisis cell had been established but both had not taken any step to stop the blasphemous material until the court order was passed.
The CJ also questioned why the Pakistan government was hesitant in banning Facebook when China had already done it. He ordered the government to strive for legislation on the issue along the same lines as other Islamic countries and China. He said if blasphemous acts were committed again, the government would sue the authorities concerned at appropriate forums.
