As Pakistan celebrates its 77th Independence Day on August 14, 2024, citizens are facing restrictions on their fundamental rights to freedom of speech and access to information. Recent reports indicate that Pakistani authorities have blocked the downloading of files over WhatsApp when using mobile data, forcing citizens to resort to VPNs to disguise themselves as Europeans or other nationalities to access content.
This move by the government appears to be a violation of the Constitution of Pakistan, which explicitly guarantees the right to freedom of expression and the press under Article 19. The article states that every citizen has the right to freedom of speech and expression, subject to reasonable restrictions imposed by law. However, the current restrictions on WhatsApp and other social media platforms go beyond what can be considered reasonable and necessary for the public interest.
Moreover, Article 19A of the Constitution provides every citizen with the right to access information in all matters of public importance. By blocking access to WhatsApp and Twitter (X), the authorities are denying citizens their constitutional right to information, which is crucial for public awareness and participation in democratic processes.
The recent disruption in WhatsApp services has left users struggling to access and share content on the popular messaging app. Many users are encountering error messages when trying to download media files, such as audio, video messages, and pictures. This technical glitch, which the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has attributed to a “technical issue”, has affected millions of WhatsApp users in the country.
The government’s actions have raised concerns about the extent of freedom of expression in practice. While the Constitution recognizes these rights, their practical application has faced challenges, particularly when content is deemed a threat to national security or morality. The government has exercised its authority to impose bans on certain media outlets and online platforms, often citing the need to control “hate material” and misinformation.
0
0
