Nisar directs PTA to prepare SOPs to check social media misuse

• NADRA, PTA directed to review laws, regulatory frameworks to check misuse, to ensure freedom of expression
• NA speaker asked to convene all parties meeting to evolve consensus for putting in place a social media framework
• Minister asks FO to request OIC to convene a meeting on blasphemous content on social media as per commitment

Minister for Interior Affairs Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Wednesday directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to formulate standard operating procedures (SOPs) for putting in place a framework which ensures that social media is used as a medium to facilitate positive, constructive and healthy interactions.

Chairing a high-level meeting here, he directed that initial draft of the standard operating procedures should be prepared in a week’s time for further consideration. The meeting was attended by the interior secretary, PTA chairman, advocate general, National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) chairman, Inspector General of Police (IGP), senior officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the ministry.

He also directed NADRA and PTA chairmen to review relevant laws and regulatory frameworks of neighbouring democratic countries and that of the developed nations for devising a system that ensures freedom of expression while simultaneously checking unbridled misuse of social media.

The PTA was directed to consult all stakeholders including service-providers, civil society, mainstream media and others, for setting guidelines, duly supported by the legal framework, to regulate use of social media for constructive purposes and nation-building process.

The minister asked National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq to convene a meeting of representatives of all political parties for evolving consensus for putting in place a framework to ensure that social media platforms should be used in a positive manner.

He asked Foreign Office to get in touch with the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) for convening a meeting at the OIC level on the issue of blasphemous content on social media as per commitment was given to him by the (OIC) secretary general during his last visit to Pakistan. He said that the government was willing to host the OIC conference in Pakistan.

“Being a democratic government, it is our obligation to ensure and protect the right of every citizen to freedom of expression but we are equally bound by law and constitution to protect our citizens and institutions from assault which is carried out through social media under the garb of freedom of expression,” the interior minister said.

He observed that no conscientious person could be a silent spectator to threat – posed to the socio-cultural values, national institutions and young generations – that was propagated by a section of social media. He said that right to free speech was stitched to a sense of responsibility and ownership.

He pointed out that ghost users through their fake IDs feel no qualms in misusing their right of expression and thus infringing rights of others who were deeply affected by their imprudent actions. Over the issue of registration of the international non-government organisations (INGOs) under new policy framework, he directed his ministry to finalise the process of making a decision on pending application within one month.

The minister also directed for setting up a wing at the Interior Ministry with the help of NADRA for the facilitation of the registered international non-government organisations.