14-year prison sentence for SMS joke on Pakistani president

[TruthSeeker]

The question is, can the FIA reach me here in Virginia? I will have to watch my back for a few days until the sh!t blows over (no pun intended) .....

 

[BATMAN]

Agreed to some extent. i dont favor that a President be bashed in public and open at any point of time.

Now if someone is doing the "George Bush Poopy Flag" thing or insulting an official in public through mass media (to include internet) he must be taken to task. Small jokes that too within friends shouldn't be bothering much.

Although in Pakistan legislation is a big joke and interpretation of law is another mess.
In this particular ordinance no body knows how the matter will be decided. Their is no clear cut frame work.
I'm affraid if this law will be used to ban anti indian websites or websites which post anti indain news and articles.

 

[xebex]

Although in Pakistan legislation is a big joke and interpretation of law is another mess.
In this particular ordinance no body knows how the matter will be decided. Their is no clear cut frame work.
I'm affraid if this law will be used to ban anti indian websites or websites which post anti indain news and articles.

Dont worry...anti-Indian websites and articles,in which some people r interested in, will not go away that easy.

 

[BATMAN]

Dont worry...anti-Indian websites and articles,in which some people r interested in, will not go away that easy.

But there's no harm in trying and that's what bonafied govt. is being advised to do so.

 

[proud_indian]

ISLAMABAD: It would seem that in Pakistan, there is nothing you need to watch out for more than making a joke about President Asif Ali Zardari by SMS (Short Messaging Service).

If you mistakenly, or just for fun, share with a friend one of the hundreds of derisory jokes about the leader floating around electronically, you could get a 14-year prison sentence.

Pakistan's interior minister Rehman Malik announced last week that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has been tasked to trace SMS (or text messages) and e-mails that "slander the political leadership of the country" under the vague Cyber Crimes Act.
In addition to facing up to 14 years in the jail, violators could have their property seized, Malik said, adding that the government would seek Interpol assistance in deporting foreign offenders.

Surrounded by controversy throughout his political career, Zardari has been a subject of harsh public criticism since he was elected as president by the national parliament a year ago.

Most of the criticism stems from his government's sluggishness in addressing problems such as severe power outages, intolerably fast-rising inflation, and a sputtering economy.


The laugh is on Zardari:

Robber: Give me all your money!
Zardari: Don't you know who I am? I am Asif Ali Zardari!
Robber: Okay. Give me all my money!


14-year jail for SMS joke on Pakistani president - Pakistan - World - NEWS - The Times of India

 

[xebex]

Mod please merge this thread to the one below. thanks!

http://www.defence.pk/forums/curren...on-sentence-sms-joke-pakistani-president.html

 

[proud_indian]

sorry didn't saw that thread
actually i saw it in today's TOI
please merge

 

[Kasrkin]

The "Great Leader" deserves some respect guys.

 

[duhastmish]

LOOOOOOOOL - like AS IF !!!!!! I mean asif.

Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has been tasked to trace SMS (or text messages) and e-mails that "slander the political leadership of the country" under the vague Cyber Crimes Act.

So thats what - fedram agency is suppose to do ??????? in these most demanding times of pakistan history?????

thats where all the tax payers money from pakistan and america is going ??? now could be worst than this

 

[Kasrkin]

Defence.pk strives to grant freedom of expression to all of our members. In fact when we started off, we often told ourselves that if we can establish such freedoms in a Pakistani community (where the norm of the past has been to restrict such expression) then we'll think about it as job half done. The freedom to criticize and joke about all people, especially political figures should be there for everyone.

My first reaction would be to say, to hell with it, but I would advise caution to all members. We don't like it, but its the law, violations have severe punishments according to media reports. Officially we've received no such intimation from any ministry though. We would lodge strong protests with the government and voice our disagreement even if we have to follow this unjust law.