[governance] Pakistan: PTA blocks website against its own chief

Mon Sep 3 15:44:30 EDT 2012

Dear Sala,

Thanks so much. The support from the global community is overwhelming.
Indeed we are focusing on training especially of judges,lawyers as well as
journalist in order to encourage collaboration and use all avenues
possible. In complete agreement here regarding focusing on
non-confrontational and creative methods.

Will be happy to hear more suggestions from the group, or perhaps we can
take this off the list. Shameless plug, since we believe in research backed
advocacy to influence policy change, one of our usual strategies is to
engage key players and help bring facts to educate audience and motivate
them to take action.

One such recent campaign is against the blackout of cellular services as a
security measure, we are doing a series of video interviews with security
experts, telecom representatives as well as human rights to educate people
about the facts and to enable them to enable them to make informed choices.

Here's part one of the series with security experts:
http://bolobhi.org/pakistans-suspension-of-mobile-services-was-it-necessary/

Very excited and eager to hear more suggestions on creative methods we can
adapt for strategic expansion of outreach,

Best,
Sana
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Executive Director, Bolo Bhi, Advocacy-Policy-Research [http://bolobhi.org]
Blogger: Dawn.com [http://blog.dawn.com/author/sana-saleem/]
Global Voices: [http://globalvoicesonline.org/author/sana-saleem/]
The Guardian:[ www.guardian.co.uk/profile/sana-saleem]
Blog: http://sanasaleem.com] Twitter: @sanasaleem<
http://twitter.com/sanasaleem>
 @bolobhi  <http://bolobhi.org/>

On Tue, Sep 4, 2012 at 12:32 AM, Salanieta T. Tamanikaiwaimaro <
salanieta.tamanikaiwaimaro at gmail.com> wrote:

> Dear Sana,
>
> Excellent update. Without a doubt the Court won't find it amusing as well.
>
> It is good that you are exhausting all avenues locally within Pakistan to
> get traction. It will also be great to work towards strategic expansion of
> outreach into educating people in non confrontational, creative ways of
> having respect for collaboration.
>
> I have no doubt that you are already engaged in doing this. It will help
> to start witha  few and peer education is critical whether trainings are
> for Judges, Judges can train Judges so seeking assistance from countries
> where they can allocate human resource training in specific areas. It will
> need a long term strategic approach and the point is to identify all
> possible fears such as "erosion of culture" or "trampling of values etc"
> and find ways to build bridges.
>
> A good neutral way to do this would be through projects where you can all
> work on. You probably are already doing this. I am excited about the good
> work that you are all doing in Pakistan. Well wishes Sana.
>
> Best Regards,
> Sala
>
> On Tue, Sep 4, 2012 at 7:15 AM, Sana Saleem <sana at bolobhi.org> wrote:
>
>> Hi Sala,
>>
>> You're spot on about suing constitutional rights to fight back. We along
>> with other civil society members filed a constitutional petition for
>> fundamental rights online and were able to get a stay order on ad hoc
>> blocking by the PTA,
>> see here:
>> http://bolobhi.org/press-release-public-statements/press-releases/constitutional-petition-accepted-for-fundamental-rights-online/
>>
>> Also your point about other organizations teaming up is spot on, again.
>>
>> We issued a joint statement with ten global organizations working on
>> freedom of expression and their support helped a great deal:
>> http://bolobhi.org/press-release-public-statements/press-releases/global-coalition-of-ngos-call-for-official-withdrawal-of-censorship-plans/
>>
>> Important to note that all ad hoc blocking since after the stay order is
>> contempt of court, and we are already working on following up and
>> challenging it in Sindh, Islamabad and Lahore High Court with our Partner
>> organization Subh-e-Nau.
>> Meanwhile all these directives are being collected as proof, you can find
>> e-legislation timeline since 2006 here:
>>
>> http://bolobhi.org/resources/state-of-internet-in-pakistan-e-regulations-timeline/
>>
>>
>> Best and thank you for your support for freedom of expression and
>> internet freedom in Pakistan.
>>
>> Best,
>> Sana
>>
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> Executive Director, Bolo Bhi, Advocacy-Policy-Research [
>> http://bolobhi.org]
>> Blogger: Dawn.com [http://blog.dawn.com/author/sana-saleem/]
>> Global Voices: [http://globalvoicesonline.org/author/sana-saleem/]
>> The Guardian:[ www.guardian.co.uk/profile/sana-saleem]
>> Blog: http://sanasaleem.com] Twitter: @sanasaleem<
>> http://twitter.com/sanasaleem>
>>  @bolobhi  <http://bolobhi.org/>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Sep 3, 2012 at 11:41 PM, Shahzad Ahmad <shahzad at bytesforall.pk>wrote:
>>
>>> That may not work Sala for several reasons,
>>>
>>> Constitutional provisions are marred with several vague definitions and
>>> qualifications ;)
>>>
>>> But yes we are consulting with our partners and will get back with
>>> updates.
>>>
>>> Best wishes and regards
>>> Shahzad
>>>
>>>
>>>  From: "Salanieta T. Tamanikaiwaimaro" <
>>> salanieta.tamanikaiwaimaro at gmail.com>
>>> Reply-To: <governance at lists.igcaucus.org>, "Salanieta T.
>>> Tamanikaiwaimaro" <salanieta.tamanikaiwaimaro at gmail.com>
>>> Date: Monday, September 3, 2012 11:30 PM
>>>
>>> To: <governance at lists.igcaucus.org>, Shahzad Ahmad <
>>> shahzad at bytesforall.pk>
>>> Subject: Re: [governance] Pakistan: PTA blocks website against its own
>>> chief
>>>
>>> Dear Shahzad,
>>>
>>> If your Constitution has certain civil liberties enshrined in it. Why
>>> don't you consider constitutional redress and you can suss out if people
>>> and organisations are keen to support you in sending in amicus briefs with
>>> appropriate case authorities for the matter once it is in motion.
>>>
>>> Kind Regards,
>>> Sala
>>>
>>> On Tue, Sep 4, 2012 at 4:39 AM, Shahzad Ahmad <shahzad at bytesforall.pk>wrote:
>>>
>>>> Folks,
>>>>
>>>> This is one classic example that how PTA will use different reasons and
>>>> excuses to filter the Internet to curb citizens voices and that may
>>>> eventually include political discourse.
>>>>
>>>> http://www.pakistanpressfoundation.org/latest-news/56863
>>>>
>>>> Best wishes and regards
>>>>
>>>> Shahzad
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> From: Shahzad Ahmad <shahzad at bytesforall.pk>
>>>> Reply-To: <governance at lists.igcaucus.org>, Shahzad Ahmad <
>>>> shahzad at bytesforall.pk>
>>>> Date: Monday, September 3, 2012 12:47 PM
>>>> To: "governance at lists.igcaucus.org" <governance at lists.igcaucus.org>
>>>> Subject: [governance] New policy directive for Internet Filtering in
>>>> Pakistan
>>>>
>>>> Dear Colleagues,
>>>>
>>>> More bad news coming out from Pakistan… so seemingly much talked about
>>>> Internet filtering system effectively gets an implementation through this
>>>> policy directive.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-13-17209-Govt-orders-blocking-of-all--blasphemous-pornographic-material-on-net
>>>>
>>>> Best wishes
>>>> Shahzad
>>>> www.bytesforall.pk
>>>> *
>>>> *
>>>> ____________________________________________________________ You
>>>> received this message as a subscriber on the list:
>>>> governance at lists.igcaucus.org To be removed from the list, visit:
>>>> http://www.igcaucus.org/unsubscribing For all other list information
>>>> and functions, see: http://lists.igcaucus.org/info/governance To edit
>>>> your profile and to find the IGC's charter, see:
>>>> http://www.igcaucus.org/ Translate this email:
>>>> http://translate.google.com/translate_t
>>>>
>>>> ____________________________________________________________
>>>> You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
>>>>      governance at lists.igcaucus.org
>>>> To be removed from the list, visit:
>>>>      http://www.igcaucus.org/unsubscribing
>>>>
>>>> For all other list information and functions, see:
>>>>      http://lists.igcaucus.org/info/governance
>>>> To edit your profile and to find the IGC's charter, see:
>>>>      http://www.igcaucus.org/
>>>>
>>>> Translate this email: http://translate.google.com/translate_t
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Salanieta Tamanikaiwaimaro aka Sala
>>> P.O. Box 17862
>>> Suva
>>> Fiji
>>>
>>> Twitter: @SalanietaT
>>> Skype:Salanieta.Tamanikaiwaimaro
>>> Fiji Cell: +679 998 2851
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ____________________________________________________________ You
>>> received this message as a subscriber on the list:
>>> governance at lists.igcaucus.org To be removed from the list, visit:
>>> http://www.igcaucus.org/unsubscribing For all other list information
>>> and functions, see: http://lists.igcaucus.org/info/governance To edit
>>> your profile and to find the IGC's charter, see:
>>> http://www.igcaucus.org/ Translate this email:
>>> http://translate.google.com/translate_t
>>>
>>> ____________________________________________________________
>>> You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
>>>      governance at lists.igcaucus.org
>>> To be removed from the list, visit:
>>>      http://www.igcaucus.org/unsubscribing
>>>
>>> For all other list information and functions, see:
>>>      http://lists.igcaucus.org/info/governance
>>> To edit your profile and to find the IGC's charter, see:
>>>      http://www.igcaucus.org/
>>>
>>> Translate this email: http://translate.google.com/translate_t
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Salanieta Tamanikaiwaimaro aka Sala
> P.O. Box 17862
> Suva
> Fiji
>
> Twitter: @SalanietaT
> Skype:Salanieta.Tamanikaiwaimaro
> Fiji Cell: +679 998 2851
>
>
>
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.igcaucus.org/pipermail/governance/attachments/20120904/3eaa3ef9/attachment.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
____________________________________________________________
You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
     governance at lists.igcaucus.org
To be removed from the list, visit:
     http://www.igcaucus.org/unsubscribing

For all other list information and functions, see:
     http://lists.igcaucus.org/info/governance
To edit your profile and to find the IGC's charter, see:
     http://www.igcaucus.org/

Translate this email: http://translate.google.com/translate_t