tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194611586638639172024-03-19T22:47:37.786+05:00TheCredibleTimesInvestigative insightHaroon Balochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05458994835813009410noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319461158663863917.post-75037258439856078962021-03-07T12:00:00.004+05:002021-03-07T12:00:52.750+05:00Bahauddin Zakariya & Shah Rukn e Alam Mazar | Tour Multan 2021<p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/JS54Wj57EEg" width="480"></iframe></p><div class="" dir="auto"><div class="ecm0bbzt hv4rvrfc ihqw7lf3 dati1w0a" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_2o1"><div class="j83agx80 cbu4d94t ew0dbk1b irj2b8pg"><div class="qzhwtbm6 knvmm38d"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa fgxwclzu a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">By Haroon Baloch<br /> <br /></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">Touring Multan without a comprehensive tour of Shah Rukn-e-Alam and Bahauddin Zakariya Mazars is incomplete. These two Mazars carry a lot of history and weight it when comes to Tasawuf or spirituality. </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">Every year hundreds of thousands of pilgrims would pay visit to Bahauddin Zakariya and Shah Rukn e Alam mausoleums in Multan to express their reverence and solidify association with these two Sufi saints. </div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">In this visit, I'm taking you through these two famous Mazars [mausoleums] belonging to famous 'Suharwardia Silsila' of Sufism.</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">Stay tuned and subscribe this page and my YouTube channel:</div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fchannel%2FUCAEw2pemLCCq1swZxmopD-A%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR18eA6wuzyjP8UNo8T8uLjRhaHapw8W_LW-u_42O3Cz6A-WdvZG2jSzEik&h=AT2AKH3kvF2h-i-RQ4LrACCEPwcOsusVhd2Gsw7Oxmg0gtQJlRx8dtIXx8Ijk6A9PuOKJSYBc4WOnq-obS4QvoUTQk_CbNfHWShOuSQouHzrTdDBeQqkO3eMpQk--1LpH5fMoYE&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT3VPhZGvk9UuHeApTSd8RvXjsoIb5w0Xv6VV0Ap9sCV2jXN3OEjhovUqIrEEHyJx_aNlQAi75rMoV-4Wg2wKgSETy2TW_arZCBWeDTjE4AeHxPTtzgDGCXQce25_L9Ih4hN1BrRvo7not2L-JzWnJfDOoTn-0sdY9Dcw4ZNp9TjTM1jFGCfzbpr5GcjmEUVbeQvxgwAAW4oIqC0HA" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAEw2pemLCCq1swZxmopD-A</a></span></div></div></span></div></div></div></div>Haroon Balochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05458994835813009410noreply@blogger.com0Multan, Punjab, Pakistan30.157458 71.52491541.8472241638211528 36.3686654 58.467691836178844 106.6811654tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319461158663863917.post-71371179464514138192018-08-18T21:53:00.000+05:002018-11-18T21:54:35.689+05:00Gwadar fish harbour<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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August 18, 2018</div>
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By Haroon Baloch</div>
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Gwadar (August 2018): Fishery in Gwadar is a one of the major sources of income. However, due to poor facilities and low prices have been damaging the economy of the town.<br />
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Let's have a look at the story and see what fishermen tell us about their hardships.<br />
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Haroon Balochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05458994835813009410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319461158663863917.post-44925731475658100572018-07-01T21:33:00.000+05:002018-11-18T21:40:44.568+05:00Happy hours<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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July 1, 2018</div>
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By Haroon Baloch</div>
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Montreal: Glimpses from international night and other activities arranged on the sidelines of 39th International Human Rights Training Program (IHRTP) in Montreal, Canada. </div>
Haroon Balochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05458994835813009410noreply@blogger.com0Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada45.4032761 -73.95036069999997645.3586981 -74.031041699999975 45.4478541 -73.869679699999978tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319461158663863917.post-54866641246822874872018-03-23T20:29:00.000+05:002018-11-18T21:56:44.012+05:00Reflections on the Pakistan Ruling Banning Network Shutdowns<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="addthis_sharing_toolbox" data-description="Journalist and digital rights researcher Haroon Baloch discusses the recent decision by the High Court in Islamabad, Pakistan based on research by IHRB and others that mobile network shutdowns are illegal, rejecting the State’s rationale that security considerations made such shutdowns necessary. " data-title="Reflections on the Pakistan Ruling Banning Network Shutdowns | " data-url="https://www.ihrb.org/focus-areas/information-communication-technology/commentary-pakistan-network-shutdowns-illegal" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both;">
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23 March 2018</div>
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By Haroon Baloch, Journalist and Digital Rights Researcher</div>
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In late February 2018, in a landmark judgment, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ruled that shutting down telecom networks was illegal, rejecting the State’s rationale that security considerations made such shutdowns necessary.</div>
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Pakistan has a history of network shutdowns during public gatherings and events. The court termed the shutdowns as ‘illegal’ and ‘inconsistent’ with legal provisions.</div>
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For some years now, the prevailing practice in Pakistan has been that citing apprehensions of unforeseen security circumstances, including potential terrorist attacks. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the country’s telecom regulator, has suspended mobile networks in major cities. In some cases these suspensions have lasted for prolonged durations. The shutdowns are often unannounced.</div>
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In 2016, with the help of four citizens, advocate Umer Gillani launched and filed a public interest petition in IHC against this unjust practice.</div>
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The report 'Security V. Access: The Impact of Mobile Network Shutdowns in Pakistan' contained very important findings on this practice and established that such network interruptions are disproportionate,</blockquote>
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Gilani said:</div>
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“This wouldn’t have been possible for me, had the wonderful research on this issue not been available. <a href="https://www.ihrb.org/focus-areas/information-communication-technology/report-digital-dangers-mobile-network-shutdowns" target="_blank">"Security V. Access: The Impact of Mobile Network Shutdowns in Pakistan"</a> contains very important findings on this practice and established that such network interruptions are disproportionate, and do not justify the denial of fundamental rights and access to emergency services merely on apprehensions of unforeseen security challenges.”</div>
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The report was based on research in 2015 in Pakistan, which was conducted by Bytes for All Pakistan, an Islamabad-based organisation, with its international partners, IHRB, and Center for the Internet and Human Rights.</div>
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<b>Security vs Access</b></div>
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This unprecedented verdict has been largely welcomed by individuals and groups which are at the forefront of digital rights struggle in Pakistan, and across the globe. It has in fact become a precedent for other countries’ courts in the region where similar network shutdown trends are rampant, for instance in Indian-held Kashmir.</div>
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In Pakistan, these network disruptions have left citizens handicapped, as they are unable to access emergency health services, online banking, transport... </blockquote>
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The verdict is significant and will contribute to global efforts of fight against arbitrary network disruptions.</div>
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Such disruptions are grave because of the scope of fundamental rights being violated. In Pakistan, these network disruptions have left citizens handicapped, as they are unable to access emergency health services, online banking, transport, and so on.</div>
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The state can challenge the verdict in the supreme court.</div>
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Umer says the case could have been decided on larger grounds, which go beyond the confines of section 54 of the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act, 1996, and does justice to the fundamental rights guaranteed under the constitution.</div>
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The honorable judge in the case, Justice Athar Minallah, did not specifically acknowledge the fundamental right to access telecommunications as being an integral part of the right to life protected under article 9, read with articles 4, 10(a), 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19(b) of the Constitution.</div>
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In several instances in the past, higher judiciary in Pakistan has interpreted the right to life as a right defined to encompass access to basic necessities such as electricity, natural gas and healthy environment. For example, in 1994, the Supreme Court had ruled in Shehla Zia v. WAPDA [PLD 1994 SC 693] case that access and maintenance of healthy environment for citizens is their right to life. Similarly, in Khawaja Asif v. the Federation [PLD 2014 SC 206] case, the apex court termed the access to natural gas as the right to life.</div>
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This shows growing recognition that in modern times, life without these necessities would be crippled, because these services are essential to facilitate our day-to-day activities. That is the essence of the Supreme Court’s interpretation. In the network shutdown petition, the petitioners had pled to the court to declare telecommunication right as the right to life, but the court did not rule on that.</div>
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<b>The Responsibility to Respect Requires Action</b></div>
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The judgement is also silent on the issue of telecom companies’ responsibility vis-à-vis its consumers. Under telecom rule 7, a telco is bound to give prior notice of suspension, interruption, or disconnection of services to its telecom consumers. Such notices must also disclose the reason for suspension or disconnection of services.</div>
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Telcos had never challenged PTA’s directives, and through their silence, they became part of government’s encroachment upon citizens’ human rights.</blockquote>
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Moreover, the responsibility of providing continued access to emergency services’ numbers during disconnections lies with the telcos. However, the majority of telcos and internet service providers of Pakistan do not do this. Companies operating in the sector in Pakistan include global telecommunication players including VEON (formerly VimpelCom), Telenor Group, and China Mobile Telecommunication Company.</div>
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According to <a href="http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/GuidingPrinciplesBusinessHR_EN.pdf" target="_blank">UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights</a>, business enterprises should respect human rights, which means they should not infringe upon human rights of others; rather, they should address adverse human rights impacts due to their conduct. The telecom sector has significant impacts on human rights, which include privacy, government surveillance, supply chain labour standards, health and safety, and access to telecommunications. Many telcos have expressed their commitment to uphold international human rights standards. However, their efforts to vigilantly protect rights falls short, at least partly because of governmental actions and orders in Pakistan.</div>
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Arbitrary shutdowns in Pakistan are not new. Officially, they have been happening since 2012. However, telcos had never challenged PTA’s directives, and through their silence, they became part of government’s encroachment upon citizens’ human rights.</div>
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The UN Guiding Principles are very clear on human rights due diligence. Business enterprises are bound to identify and assess any actual or potential adverse human rights impacts with which they may be involved either through their own activities or as a result of their business relationships.</div>
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In Pakistan, the telcos had never consulted their consumers or concerned stakeholders on the issue of arbitrary shutdowns by the government. Such consultations would have enabled them to gauge the range of human rights being affected or violated, and they could have sought their opinion on future course of action.</div>
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It was only in 2016 that China Mobile Communications Pakistan submitted its First Appeal Against Order (FAO), and that too only after the IHC sought responses from the telcos while hearing a public interest petition. </div>
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Telenor Pakistan did however cooperate with Bytes4All and IHRB in its <a href="http://www.ihrb.org/focus-areas/information-communication-technology/report-digital-dangers-mobile-network-shutdowns" target="_blank">2015 research on network shutdowns</a>, which provided the basis for the current petition.</div>
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<b>Proportionate and Lawful</b></div>
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Now is the right time for companies to positively engage with the Government and other stakeholders for future course of action.</div>
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Network shutdowns by the state have been justified as a counter-terrorism measure, but the IHC verdict has shown that the measure is disproportionate. According to the Court's interpretation of Section 54(3) of Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act, 1996, the only available legal ground for shutting down telecommunications networks is proclamation of emergency in the country by the President of Pakistan, which is a rare case. That also means, if there is not emergency imposed by the President, network shutdowns should not happen.</div>
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If there is not emergency imposed by the President, network shutdowns should not happen.</blockquote>
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However, security is a legitimate concern for the state, and most security and human rights experts agree that time-bound, legal shutdowns to address a specific imminent risk are justified under law. But governments have often used the powers to justify disproportionate and widespread shutdowns. Among the recommendations outlined in the <a href="https://www.ihrb.org/focus-areas/information-communication-technology/report-digital-dangers-mobile-network-shutdowns" target="_blank">2015 report</a>, the following remain relevant today.</div>
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<li>Network shutdowns should only be invoked in cases of real and imminent threats.</li>
<li>Shutdown should be limited in duration and area and be proportionate to the perceived risk.</li>
<li>Where possible, the public should be informed of the shutdown, geography, and duration.</li>
<li>Emergency services should remain available during shutdown.</li>
<li>Laws should be subject to ongoing review.</li>
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Only such clearly established procedures will ensure that shutdowns are proportionate and lawful, and it will clarify to the companies what their obligations are – to the state and to the users, who are the rights-holders</div>
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Haroon Balochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05458994835813009410noreply@blogger.com0London, UK51.5073509 -0.1277582999999822351.1912379 -0.77320529999998222 51.8234639 0.51768870000001777tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319461158663863917.post-52859397091604489342017-11-14T20:57:00.000+05:002018-11-18T20:59:28.232+05:00UPR review — keeping fingers crossed<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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November 17, 2017<br />
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Pakistan submitted national report for its human rights review under a unique and important UN mechanism, the Universal Periodic Review. It presents a flowery picture of everything good in the country from civil and political rights to economic and cultural rights, gender rights and the rights of minorities. Then why do Pakistanis make such a hue and cry? Why televisions and newspapers are thronged with rights violations? And who brought them to the lime light? Definitely these liars have nothing to do with patriotism and the country — are they traitors?<br />
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Attacks on journalists, kidnappings, torture and threats to them and their families are common in Pakistan, and these are done with absolute impunity</blockquote>
The review is taking place in Geneva today, and Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif is leading a large Pakistani delegation at the Human Rights Council. Last time, former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar presented this report and made several voluntary commitments along with 168 recommendations that the country received from reviewing States during 2nd cycle of UPR.<br />
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The government believes staunchly that it has ensured for every citizen the access to basic necessities, such as food, clean drinking water, health and education. Absolutely, no issues of civil liberties exist at all, and all the human rights benchmarks have been maintained at the highest level.<br />
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Responding to the 2nd cycle’s recommendations 27 and 29, page 15 of the national report reads, “The government’s strong commitment to the promotion and protection of freedom of expression and opinion is demonstrated by the fact that more than 100 media channels and hundreds of newspapers enjoy complete freedom… the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) was adopted by the parliament with the intention to prevent cyber-crimes and protect citizens’ rights of freedom of expression and opinion.”<br />
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These lines are not more than another lie that this report has piled up in the presence of the fact that the State has actually criminalised expression in Pakistan with introduction of harsh and disproportionate penalties to crimes related to expression and opinion in PECA.<br />
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A recent report by a digital rights group after analysing three years of network data of Pakistani internet concluded that the State has been censoring political dissent and expression of religious minorities. Particularly Baloch ethnic groups and commentary related to religion<br />
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There’s no second opinion that unfettered freedoms to the rights may also lead to circumstances where public good and peace could be at stake. Therefore, the international human rights regime also guides on few restrictions on rights, which can only be provided by the law and when necessary in a democratic society.<br />
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However, in Pakistan there is a list of restrictions that the Constitution provides itself beside those exercised by the State and non-State actors without enjoying any legal cover. Attacks on journalists, kidnappings, torture and threats to them and their families are common in Pakistan, and these are done with absolute impunity. The State’s indicator to gauge freedom of expression is only limited to the number of television channels, radios and newspapers in the country.<br />
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The sad reality is that it has been keeping its eyes tightly shut on the events of heavily censoring and blocking online content which criticises the military and corrupt governance apparatus.<br />
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A recent report by a digital rights group after analysing three years of network data of Pakistani internet concluded that the State has been censoring political dissent and expression of religious minorities. Particularly Baloch ethnic groups and commentary related to religion.<br />
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Cracking down against social media users and criminalising dissent of those raising questions on the State for its biased and flawed policies would be tantamount to protecting freedom of expression for the State, but to me this is just like committing a crime in the broad daylight.<br />
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The idea that in few hours Khawaja Asif would confidently be reading a report full of lies in front of delegates from190 countries makes my skin crawl and fills me with shame as a Pakistani. Whereas the reviewing States would be keeping another report in front of them containing the long list of human rights violations that the State has been perpetrating against its citizens. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for the day Pakistan has true freedom of expression.<br />
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The writer is a journalist and digital rights researcher. Follow: @advertbalcha<br />
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Haroon Balochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05458994835813009410noreply@blogger.com1Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan33.6844202 73.0478848000000233.261279699999996 72.402437800000015 34.1075607 73.693331800000024tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319461158663863917.post-78119296758807652212017-10-18T21:25:00.000+05:002018-11-18T21:29:07.798+05:00Internet Censorship in Pakistan: Findings from 2014-2017<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">October 18, 2017<br /><br />By Haroon Baloch (Bytes for All Pakistan) <br /> Maria Xynou (OONI) <br /> Arturo Filastò (OONI)</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img alt="Pakistan" src="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan/pakistan.jpg" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px;" /></span></span></h1>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Islamabad: Political dissent in Pakistan under threat, government censors online content - PC: Haroon Baloch</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A research study by the Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI) and Bytes for All Pakistan.</span></span></div>
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<strong style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Table of contents</span></strong></div>
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<a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan-internet-censorship/#key-findings" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Key Findings</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan-internet-censorship/#introduction" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Introduction</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan-internet-censorship/#background" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Background</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan-internet-censorship/#network-landscape-and-internet-penetration" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Network landscape and internet penetration</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan-internet-censorship/#legal-environment" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Legal environment</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan-internet-censorship/#freedom-of-expression" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Freedom of expression</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan-internet-censorship/#press-freedom" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Press freedom</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan-internet-censorship/#access-to-information" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Access to information</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan-internet-censorship/#privacy-and-digital-surveillance" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Privacy and digital surveillance</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan-internet-censorship/#censorship" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Censorship</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan-internet-censorship/#reported-cases-of-internet-censorship-and-surveillance" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Reported cases of internet censorship and surveillance</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan-internet-censorship/#methodology-measuring-internet-censorship-in-pakistan" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Methodology: Measuring internet censorship in Pakistan</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan-internet-censorship/#review-of-the-citizen-labs-test-list-for-pakistan" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Review of the Citizen Lab’s test list for Pakistan</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan-internet-censorship/#ooni-network-measurement-tests" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">OONI network measurement tests</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan-internet-censorship/#web-connectivity" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Web Connectivity</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan-internet-censorship/#http-invalid-request-line" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">HTTP Invalid Request Line</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan-internet-censorship/#http-header-field-manipulation" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">HTTP Header Field Manipulation</span></a></div>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan-internet-censorship/#vanilla-tor-test" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Vanilla Tor test</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan-internet-censorship/#whatsapp-test" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">WhatsApp test</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan-internet-censorship/#facebook-messenger-test" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Facebook Messenger test</span></a></div>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan-internet-censorship/#data-analysis" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Data analysis</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan-internet-censorship/#findings" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Findings</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan-internet-censorship/#minority-groups" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Minority groups</span></a></div>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan-internet-censorship/#religious-criticism" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Religious criticism</span></a></div>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan-internet-censorship/#acknowledgement-of-limitations" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Acknowledgement of limitations</span></a></li>
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<a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan-internet-censorship/#conclusion" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Conclusion</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan-internet-censorship/#acknowledgements" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Acknowledgements</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Country:</strong> Pakistan</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Probed ISPs:</strong> AS132165, AS135661, AS17911, AS23674, AS24499, AS36351, AS38264, AS38547, AS38710, AS45595, AS45669, AS45773, AS45814, AS53889, AS55714, AS56167, AS58895, AS59257, AS9260, AS9387, AS9541, AS9557 (22 ISPs)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">OONI tests:</strong> <a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/nettest/web-connectivity/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Web Connectivity</a>, <a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/nettest/http-invalid-request-line/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">HTTP Invalid Request Line</a>, <a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/nettest/http-header-field-manipulation/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">HTTP Header Field Manipulation</a>, <a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/nettest/vanilla-tor/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Vanilla Tor</a>, <a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/nettest/facebook-messenger/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Facebook Messenger test</a>, <a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/nettest/whatsapp/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">WhatsApp test</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Testing period:</strong> 5th October 2014 to 22nd September 2017 (3 years)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Censorship methods:</strong> DNS tampering and HTTP transparent proxies serving blockpages</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Key Findings</span></span></h1>
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<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We <strong style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">confirm detection of <a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan/pk-blocked-sites.csv" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">210 blocked URLs</a> in Pakistan</strong>. Explicit blockpages were observed for many of these URLs, while others were blocked by means of DNS tampering.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many of the blocked URLs are considered blasphemous under <a href="https://www.oecd.org/site/adboecdanti-corruptioninitiative/46816797.pdf" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Pakistan’s Penal Code</a> for hosting content related to the controversial “<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2015/05/04/just-what-have-we-learned-five-years-after-everybody-draw-muhammad-day/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Draw Mohammed Day</a>” campaign. Geopolitical power dynamics appear to be reinforced through the<a href="https://explorer.ooni.torproject.org/measurement/20170822T010829Z_AS45595_q38vxV4VoLi5d4iwhXEijjmMr7HzKbC1bL4iI2MfcftuRzMu3x?input=http:%2F%2Fwww.balochwarna.com" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">blocking</a> of sites run by ethnic minority groups.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pakistani ISPs appear to be applying “smart filters”, selectively blocking access to specific web pages hosted on the unencrypted HTTP version of sites, rather than blocking access to entire domains. Overall, we only found ISPs to be blocking the HTTP version of sites, potentially enabling censorship circumvention over HTTPS (for sites that support encrypted HTTPS connections).</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On a positive note, popular communications apps, including <a href="https://explorer.ooni.torproject.org/measurement/20170906T010149Z_AS45595_BQzV48aUdUw2ebx4eqFb8jk64mrTKHzn2WkSHHCtzwx7hIeM2E" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">WhatsApp</a> and <a href="https://explorer.ooni.torproject.org/measurement/20170906T010159Z_AS45595_rIvlQSTc30PELI3w2VCF3ErA5I8kN9JZgwQsLAYC4qo8wnPY3j" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Facebook Messenger</a>, were accessible during the testing period. We find that the <a href="https://www.torproject.org/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Tor network</a>, which enables its users to browse the web anonymously, was mostly<a href="https://explorer.ooni.torproject.org/measurement/20170906T010438Z_AS45595_YT4qiR9G0FUiL6YCllSLRfXUBR9UuP15PlR9PfN6n3CLgRhB7U" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">accessible</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Introduction</span></span></h1>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This study is part of an ongoing effort to examine internet censorship in Pakistan and in <a href="https://explorer.ooni.torproject.org/world/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">more than 200 other countries</a>around the world.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The <a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI)</a> and <a href="http://content.bytesforall.pk/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Bytes for All Pakistan</a> collaborated on a joint research study to examine internet censorship in Pakistan through the collection and analysis of network measurements. The aim of our study is to document an aspect of internet governance in Pakistan through the analysis of <a href="https://api.ooni.io/files/by_country/PK" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">empirical data</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The following sections of this report provide more detailed information about Pakistan’s network landscape and internet penetration levels, its legal environment with respect to freedom of expression, access to information and privacy, as well as cases of censorship and surveillance that have previously been reported in the country. The remainder of the report documents the methodology and key findings of this study.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">DISCLAIMER:</strong> This is a research report based on facts collected from <a href="https://api.ooni.io/files/by_country/PK" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">network measurements</a>. This report is not reflective of either partner’s personal or official opinions.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Background</span></span></h1>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pakistan is a country in transition, and has been experiencing political, economic and security instability for more than a decade. Since <sup style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">9</sup>⁄<sub style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">11</sub>, the country has become a flashpoint because of the ongoing US war on terror in the region. Pakistan has been an active non-NATO member and an important ally of the global alliance fighting the war on terror since <sup style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">9</sup>⁄<sub style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">11</sub>. Due to its alliance against terror groups including Al-Qaeda, the Afghan Taliban and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, the country has faced massive internal and external security challenges and economic destabilization. Around <a href="https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/206709-Pakistan-suffers-1231-bn-losses-in-terror-war" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">123 USD billion in financial losses</a> were reported by the government of Pakistan in its Economic Survey for 2016-17, and <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1172931" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">80,000 Pakistanis</a> have lost their lives to the cause.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On political front, Pakistan witnessed a major shift in governance structure in 2010. Pakistan Peoples Party’s, a center-left party, succeeded in the 2008 general elections, and immediately after assuming the power, it vowed revival and restoration of the defunct 1973 constitution in its original shape through a parliamentary process. As a result, a parliamentary committee on constitutional reforms was constituted who completed its deliberations with all political parties and proposed major administrative and governance related amendments in the defunct constitution. These included restoration of fundamental rights, renouncement of executive powers from the president to the elected parliament, granting provincial autonomy, devolution of departments to the provinces, and allocating 33 percent of seats for women, and 14 seats for non-Muslims in the lower and upper houses of the parliaments. These amendments to the constitution were unanimously approved in April 2010 when the parliament passed the 18^th^ Amendment and the country got rid of anomalies introduced by military dictators between 1979 and 2007. In 2013, another constitutional landmark was achieved in the form of first ever successful completion of five-year tenure of any democratically elected civilian government, and <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1038731" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">smooth transfer of administrative powers</a> to next civilian government.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While Pakistan has seen several political successes in recent years, it still has a strong influence from a powerful military establishment on the country’s law making under the national security narrative. In 2013, the government enacted the Investigation for Fair Trial Act (IFTA), granting overbroad and disproportionate surveillance powers to intelligence agencies. Similarly, the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016 adopts a set of ‘unreasonable’ restrictions in Section 37 that allow the administration to block, remove/filter and censor online content in the pretext national security, integrity of Islam, morality, relations with friendly nations, contempt of court, etc. Several provisions in the law also provide heightened punishments, which will have chilling effects on online expression. For example, the provisions related to ‘dignity of a natural person’ (defamation or libel) have also been included to crack down on political dissenters.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As per the latest provisional census results, Pakistan is a country of 207.77 million people with 106.4 million males and 101.3 million females. Of these, 36.3% population is housed in urban areas, while remaining 66.63% lived in rural areas. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) has yet to make the final counts public with more demographics details and characteristics of population such as religions, ethnicities, etc. However, according to previous estimates of PBS, Islam is the largest religion of the country. Around <a href="http://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files//tables/POPULATION%20BY%20RELIGION.pdf" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">96% of the population</a> comprises on Muslims, 1.6% Hindus, 1.59% Christians, 0.22% Ahmadi, 0.25% Scheduled Castes and 0.07% other religious minorities.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Demographically, Pakistan is a diverse country with Punjabi, Sindhi, Siraiki, Mohajir (migrants from India), Pashtun, Baluchi, Baruhi, Burushaski, Chitrali and Shina being the major <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Pakistan#Ethnic_groups" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">ethnic groups</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Network landscape and internet penetration</span></span></h1>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In spite of that South Asia is the second least connected region in the world, social media managing companies Hootsuite and We Are Social <a href="https://www.techinasia.com/pakistan-digital-landscape-2016" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">reported</a> in January 2017 that Pakistan in the South Asia is one of the fastest growing markets for the internet. According to their <a href="https://www.slideshare.net/wearesocialsg/digital-in-2017-southern-asia" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">statistics</a>, internet penetration in Pakistan grew by 20% in 2016, with particularly notable growth of social media at 35%. Most web traffic in Pakistan, like other emerging markets, is generated through mobile phones with its annual increase of 13%. There were at least 140.2 million mobile connections, accounting for 72% of population. Of these, 29% of the connections were mobile broadband (3G/4G).</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img alt="PK telco subscribers" src="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan/pk-telcos.png" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px;" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Source: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority - 2017</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The total number of internet users in Pakistan in January 2016 was 35.1 million people. According to the report, the 31 million active social media users were most concentrated on Facebook. However, the report also indicated a huge gender divide for social networking; only 22% of females were accessing Facebook in comparison to 78% of males.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The latest figures by the state-owned telecom regulator, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) claims that internet penetration at the end of July 2017 has reached to <a href="http://www.pta.gov.pk/index.php?Itemid=599" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">45.5 million users</a>, which accounts to 21.8% in a 207.77 million population. By technology, 94.4% people were mobile broadband subscribers, remaining were connected through DSL, HFC, WiMax, FTTH, EvDO and other technologies. These stats suggest that since the launch of 3G and 4G mobile broadband, these technologies are becoming irrelevant with every passing day. In 2013-14, total number of broadband subscribers were around 3.8 million and most of them relied on EvDO, DSL or WiMax technologies. However, 3G/4G mobile broadband technology was launched in mid-2014, which changed the internet landscape of the country in terms of access expansion. The annual Wireless Local Loop (WLL) subscribers by the end of December 2016 were 375,653, while the Fixed Line Local Loop (FLL) density was 1.46%. By the end of 2016, the annual Fixed Local Line subscribers were 2,692,225. According to PTA figures, annual Cellular Mobile Teledensity in year 2016-17 was 70.85%, whereas accumulated annual Teledensity (Fixed, Wireless Local Loop and Mobile) was 72.41%.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) acts as a Pakistan’s internet gateway and bridges the national internet traffic with international traffic through undersea cables, satellite links and terrestrial cables. Pakistan is linked with Middle East, Western Europe and Southeast Asia through SEA-ME-WE-III submarine fiber optic cable system. According to PTA, Pakistan also established SEA-ME-WE-IV for international link improving through IMEWE and SEA-ME-WE-V. Transworld Associates Limited also established first ever private sector undersea fiber optic cable system, TW-1 connecting Pakistan with Oman and UAE. Another undersea fiber optic cable system is currently in the process of completion, called Asia-Africa-Europe (AAE-1). PTCL is also collaborating with a consortium of international telecommunication operators to execute this project.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Additionally, Pakistan is also constructing a terrestrial fiber optic cable network in partnership with China, called the Pakistan-China Optical Fiber Cable (PCOFC) project. This work is being built under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiative and the unstated objective of this cable is to route a significant portion of internet traffic from Pakistan through China, which will put it under the authority of the Rawalpindi Special Communications Organization (SCO). SCO is another government owned telecom operator, which is maintained by Pakistan military with the limited mandate of providing communication services in the disputed Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) regions. During the course of time, <a href="https://www.hrw.org/reports/2006/pakistan0906/5.htm" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">SCO has expanded its services</a>from only landline telephony to Wireless Local Loop (WLL), cellular mobile (GSM), broadband internet (DSL) digital cross connect (DXX), long distance and international (LDI) and domestic private leased networks (DPLN). However, due to its monopoly over business in the region and opposition competition in the sector, private telecom operators were not allowed to operate in these region until 2005 earthquake. Considering people’s plea that telecommunication services expedite rescue efforts during calamities, the government allowed private operators to provide mobile phone services in the regions. Recently, SCO had also made a request to the government to allow expanding its networks to all regions of the country, which was turned down by a parliamentary body.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Per the <a href="http://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/337436-PM-performs-groundbreaking-of-PakChina-optic-fibe" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">declared plan</a>, the PCOFC has begun construction at the Khunjarab Pass on the Pakistan-China border and will provide broadband connectivity to Gilgit-Baltistan region. Through this line, Pakistan will connect to Transit Europe-Asia Terrestrial Cable Network and will provide both countries with additional routes for their international internet traffic.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pakistan has improved in-country fiber optic network connecting almost all cities and several rural areas in recent years, however, still a large population living in the far-flung areas is disconnected. The total length of fiber optic cable network, which is laid with the help of private operators in Pakistan is <a href="http://www.pta.gov.pk/spectrumauction/im-010414.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">22,300 Km</a>. PTCL owns only 5,500 Km while remaining is installed by Wateen, Multinet and Link Direct, all private telecommunication companies.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pakistan offers a conducive, yet a competitive environment to private telecom investors to operate in the sector, yet the revenue generation from telcos is not as encouraging as it should be. According to State Bank of Pakistan’s figures, share of net foreign direct investment in telecom sector in 2015-16 was 13% with USD 456,371 million revenues. The overall investment in telecom sector in same fiscal year remained \$719.7 million, of which 91.6% was in cellular sector. However, in recent years the government opted the policy to further liberalize telecom sector, and announced auctioning of Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) broadband spectrum licenses in 2013.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the region, Pakistan is among those countries who launched mobile broadband services quite late. It opened up the bidding process for selling out five broadband spectrums in April 2014 under all three internationally harmonized bands (2100 MHz, 1800 MHz and 850 MHz). Only the new entrants in Pakistan telecom market were eligible to place a bid under 850 MHz. The auction results were announced on April 23, 2014. Two blocks of 2x5 MHz and two blocks of 2x10 MHz were sold under 2100 MHz band. One of the foreign companies also secured more advanced block of 2x10 MHz under 1800 MHz band. Another block of 2x10 MHz was sold in April 2016 under 850 MHz band. The government generated around USD 1.5 billion from these auctions. Recently, the government has also announced to hold auctioning of 3G/4G spectrums in AJK and GB regions.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Despite the fact, Pakistan has made some progress after launch of 3G/4G services available to its citizens, however, provision of quality services to citizens is still a huge hurdle in improving access to fast internet. OpenSignal, a private company specializes in wireless coverage mapping through crowdsources data on carrier signal quality from users, suggests in its <a href="https://opensignal.com/reports/2017/06/state-of-lte" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">annual report</a> launched in June 2017 that Pakistan stood among the bottom five countries regarding 4G availability with score of 53.9%. The reason of this is because all mobile operators providing LTE and 4G services are only concentrating in urban area where their economic interests are maximum. (See Coverage Map). In terms of speed, Pakistan is again among bottom 10 countries, however, much better than India, Iran and Sri Lanka in the region. Average 4G speed in Pakistan is 11.71 Mbps in comparison to 5.14 Mbps and 10.24 Mbps in neighboring countries India and Iran respectively.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img alt="Map 1" src="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan/pk-map-1.png" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px;" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Map 1: 4G coverage map of Pakistan (Source: OpenSignal)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img alt="Map 2" src="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan/pk-map-2.png" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px;" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Map 2: 2G/3G/4G coverage map of Pakistan (Source: OpenSignal)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As far as the landscape of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) is concerned, more or less <a href="http://content.bytesforall.pk/sites/default/files/Pakistan_Internet_Landscape_2016_Web.pdf" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">50 ISPs</a> have been operating in Pakistan. PTCL is one of the three state-owned telecom companies, which is the largest and operating in all 14 regions of the country covering over 2000 urban and rural towns. The other state-owned companies are National Telecommunication Limited (NTC) and SCO. PTCL provides services in broadband, DSL, EvDO, and 3G wireless broadband. Wateen is the second largest ISP of the country which is privately owned and provides DSL and WiMAX wireless broadband services in almost all urban areas across Pakistan. Other leading ISPs include WorldCall Telecom, Wi-Tribe, Qubee, COMSATS Internet Services, Telecard, LinkDotNet, Sharp, NayaTel, DV Com Data, Cyber Internet Services, Super Dialogue, MyTel, MetroTel, Sharp Communications.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At least 17 Long Distance and International (LDI) telephony operators have been operating in the country; three of them are state-owned, whereas FLL operators are 26.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Legal environment</span></span></h1>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Freedom of expression</span></span></h2>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The situation regarding freedom of expression, both within offline and online spaces, is becoming increasingly life threatening in Pakistan.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The right to freedom of opinion and expression is guaranteed under <a href="http://na.gov.pk/uploads/documents/1333523681_951.pdf" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Article 19 of the Constitution of Pakistan</a>, which is subject to a set of limitations. These include “restrictions imposed by law in the interest of the glory of Islam or the integrity, security or defense of Pakistan or any part thereof, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, commission of, or incitement to an offense”. A set of subjective and vague terminology in this Article makes it arbitrary and open to interpretation. Also the limitations such as “…glory of Islam or the integrity, security or defense of Pakistan, friendly relations with foreign states, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court” are restrictions that do not meet the criteria provided in the ICCPR.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Regarding online expression, <a href="http://www.na.gov.pk/uploads/documents/1472635250_246.pdf" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">PECA 2016</a> chalks out comprehensive guidelines for the state to criminalise political and religious dissent. Section 10 focuses on cyber-terrorism, Section 20 pertains to offences against the dignity of a natural person and Section 37 looks into ‘unlawful’ online content. These guidelines sanction unnecessary powers to administrative authorities to stamp down online content and initiate legal action against the accused.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These provisions under PECA suggest heightened punishments of up to 14 years imprisonment and fines up to 50 million rupees or both. Moreover, stifling online expression through criminal courts proceedings in defamation cases is a harsh response. Article 20 of PECA in offences of defamation in online spaces suggests up to three years imprisonment or up to 10 million rupees fine, or both.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">PECA contains several terms that are vague and can be misinterpreted and used unlawfully against anyone It does not contain any procedural safeguards (prior to censorship as well as in appeal) against surveillance activities carried out by intelligence agencies, nor does it contain the grounds on which an authority has to consider making use of its powers.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The government also uses the <a href="http://www.ppra.org.pk/doc/anti-t-act.pdf" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997</a> to criminalise online speech. There are documented cases where the state tried the accused under section 11-W of the Anti-Terrorism Act for sharing ‘objectionable’ material on Facebook. Anti-terrorism courts meted out a thirteen year <a href="https://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/37898/how-far-is-the-state-willing-to-go-to-police-the-internet-in-pakistan/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">imprisonment sentence</a> to Rizwan Haider and Saqlain Haider, both belonging to Shia sect, for sharing ‘objectionable’ posts.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since the start of 2017, Pakistan has been witnessing a planned crackdown against social media activists, political workers and bloggers. The high handedness on human rights movement has manifested a rampant culture of impunity. <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1307195" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Abduction of four bloggers</a> namely Waqas Goraya, Asim Saeed, Ahmed Raza Naseer and Salman Haider are a few examples of this. After their release, these bloggers adversely suffered an online smear campaign that associated them with controversial and religiously sensitive content on social media pages.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cases of forced disappearances are not reported, and those missing have not returned. Pakistan’s record in providing safety to activists, journalists, and civil society members who have been critical of the policies and growing religious radicalization is far from encouraging. A large number of such individuals have been routinely censored, intimidated, been under constant surveillance and attacked in the past. This has inevitably contributed to the narrowing of spaces for peaceful expression, debate, protest, and the exercise of civil liberties.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More recently, the government ordered the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to take action against social media activists who were criticising military. Subsequently, FIA prepared a list of 200 social media users, summoned them, and confiscated their devices for forensic analyses. This crackdown corroborates the <a href="https://www.samaa.tv/pakistan/2017/05/fia-to-question-200-social-media-activists-over-anti-army-posts/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">fears that the PECA 2016 is being used to silence political dissent</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Press freedom</span></span></h2>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Press freedom is guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution, which is subject to a set of limitation which do not correspond to the guidelines provided under ICCPR. (See section Freedom of Expression). Print and electronic media in Pakistan are being regularized by state-owned regulators Press Council of Pakistan (PCP) and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) established under PCP Ordinance 2002 and PEMRA Ordinance 2002. In August 2015, PEMRA formulated a media code of conduct, which is enforced on privately owned electronic media across the country. However, most observers noted that media professionalism and ethics would be more robust if it originated from <a href="http://www.osce.org/fom/31497?download=true" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">self-regulatory codes</a> by an independent media itself.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In reality, media regulators such as PEMRA and PCP are functioning as non-autonomous subordinates of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The government has not ensured that the mandates of media regulators remain autonomous.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In PECA 2016, sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 have been introduced, which are potential threat to investigative form of journalism as they not only restrict access to critical but public interest information or intelligence in digital forms, but also criminalize such form of access. However, the government has recently passed the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1352823" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Public Interest Disclosure Bill</a>(whistleblowers protection law) in the National Assembly, which will become law after its passage from the Senate.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Access to information</span></span></h2>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As a result of 18th amendment, Article 19-A was included in the Constitution guaranteeing the right to information in all matters of public importance subject to regulations and ‘reasonable restrictions’ imposed by the law. However, guidelines for these ‘reasonable restrictions’ are missing in the Constitution leaving space for legislative bodies to introduce interpretations and limitations of their own choice to restrict this right.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since the passage of 18th amendment, the federal government has not made progress on finalizing legislation on the Right to Information Act (RTI). Observers note this Act, if passed, is possibly the best tool to ensure better accountability in government institutions. However, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab governments have already enacted two impressive laws in their respective provinces. Like the federal government, <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1240632" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Baluchistan province has yet to replace its outdated RTI laws with the new ones</a>. Sindh assembly has also passed a new bill called Sindh Transparency and Right to Information Bill 2016, which is still <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1320315" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">pending for approval</a> from the governor of the province.</span></span></div>
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<h2 id="privacy-and-digital-surveillance" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1.15rem; margin: 3em 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Privacy and digital surveillance</span></span></h2>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Under global human rights law, any interference with the right to privacy can only be justified if it is in accordance with the law, has a legitimate objective and is conducted in a manner that is <a href="https://necessaryandproportionate.org/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">necessary and proportionate</a>. Rapid advances in technology have posed significant challenges to the right to privacy, yet governments are required to protect and promote this right in the digital age.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Article 14, Clause 1 of the Constitution of Pakistan provides for the inviolability of the privacy of the home, subject to law. However, the Constitution does not expressly protect privacy of communications, digital or otherwise. Moreover, Article 14 does not provide any limitations for laws that restrict the right to privacy to ensure that they are not arbitrary and comply with the principles of necessity and proportionality.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">PECA 2016 also legitimizes the state’s activities to snoop into digital communications of the citizens, retain personal data for up to one-year and share it with foreign governments and agencies. PECA 2016 poses a serious threat to the right to privacy as it permits the PTA and the designated investigation agency to access traffic data of telecommunication subscribers and confiscate data and devices without prior warrants from the court under Section 31. Moreover, Section 35 permits decryption of information, making it impossible for persons to be anonymous.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Phone calls are routinely tapped, which was admitted by the state intelligence agencies before the Supreme Court in 2015, when they stated that they were <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1186013/nearly-7000-phones-tapped-in-may-isi-tellsscutm_%20source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dawn-news+(Dawn+News)" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">monitoring over 7,000 phone lines</a> every month. In addition, the government has implemented a <a href="http://china.aiddata.org/projects/37016" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">mass digital surveillance programme</a> under the guise of securing Islamabad. Over 1,800 high-powered cameras have been installed all over Islamabad. These high-definition cameras are technologically advanced and their facial recognition feature links to <a href="https://content.bytesforall.pk/node/181" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA)</a>. <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1289650" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Punjab</a>, <a href="http://dailytimes.com.pk/khyber-pakhtunkhwa/28-Jan-17/peshawar-safe-city-project-gets-go-ahead" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa</a>and <a href="https://timesofislamabad.com/karachi-safe-city-project-state-art-security-system-secure-karachi/2016/10/12/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Sindh</a> governments have also unveiled their plans to install CCTV cameras in their respective jurisdictions.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Censorship</span></span></h2>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">PTA continues to block over 80,000 websites on grounds of morality and obscenity. Another <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1237500" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">200,000 links containing ‘objectionable’ content remains inaccessible</a> in Pakistani cyberspace. In January 2016, PTA on the directions of the Supreme Court also instructed the internet service providers (ISPs) to <a href="https://tribune.com.pk/story/1034224/objectionable-content-isps-ordered-to-block-400000-pornographic-websites/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">block 400,000 ‘objectionable’ websites</a> at domain level. However, ISPs reported back that blocking at such a mass scale would be costly.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However, all the websites marked to be blocked were not containing the above-mentioned content. Pakistani government also frequently requests Facebook, Twitter and Google to restrict or remove what they deem to be ‘objectionable content’ in Pakistan.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">According to the <a href="https://govtrequests.facebook.com/country/Pakistan/2016-H1/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Facebook transparency report</a>, for the first six months of 2016, it received 719 requests from Pakistani authorities requiring data related to criminal cases, as well as information on 1,029 user accounts. PTA also made 280 requests to Facebook to retain information, while 363 user account data was requested to be preserved for official criminal investigations for 90 days. Facebook also received 25 requests to restrict objectionable and allegedly blasphemous content under the local laws. Between January to June 2014, <a href="https://govtrequests.facebook.com/country/Pakistan/2014-H1/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Facebook restricted 1,773 pieces of content in Pakistan</a> under local blasphemy laws and prohibition of criticism on the state. Pakistan also made a total of <a href="https://transparency.twitter.com/en/countries/pk.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">9 removal requests from Twitter</a> between January and June 2016.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On March 27, 2017, the Interior Ministry informed the Islamabad High Court while hearing a case related to online blasphemous content that Facebook removed 85% of ‘objectionable’ material requested by the government of Pakistan.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">YouTube remained blocked in Pakistan between September 2012 and January 2016 due to release of a movie trailer, ‘Innocence of Muslims’. However, Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoIT&T) claimed that <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35345872" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">YouTube agreed with the government of Pakistan to entertain content blocking and removal requests</a> from Pakistan cyberspace. Google has since launched a <a href="http://content.bytesforall.pk/node/188" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">country specific version of YouTube</a>. The new homepage contains content that is curated specifically for Pakistani users that they would see by default when they access YouTube from within Pakistan.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Reported cases of internet censorship and surveillance</span></span></h1>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Censorship in Pakistan has been one of the biggest stumbling blocks in the way of ensuring swift, open and uninterrupted access to the Internet. Multiple factors have been restricting the access and associated rights, including enabling right of the freedom of expression in online spaces.</span></span></div>
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<strong style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Censorship of erotic expression</span></strong></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since enactment of PECA in 2016, the government has become more empowered to block online expression, and remove/filter digital content under the broad and subjective provisions related to “objectionable content”. In recent months, dozens of cases of blocking and censoring content have been reported on account of obscenity, blasphemy, piecing criticism or political dissent against the government and military policies, matters related to national security, etc. In the pretext of blasphemy, Pakistan placed a blanket ban on Youtube in September 2012, which was restored after three and a half years after reaching an agreement between the government of Pakistan and Google that the latter will entertain future requests to block objectionable content.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In March 2016, PTA submitted a report in the Supreme Court stating that <a href="http://dunyanews.tv/en/SpecialReport/321198-84000-websites-containing-salacious-content-blo" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">access to at least 84,000 websites and pages have been restricted in Pakistan</a> on account of salacious content. The report further informed the court that another list containing 400,000 links was also handed over to ISPs for blocking at domain level. PTCL informed that it had blocked 200,000 links. However, PTA also expressed its inability to complete this task because it was an expensive exercise for ISPs.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">‘Deviant Art’ is another online networking space for ‘artists and art enthusiasts’ aimed to promote liberation of creative expression. The platform is actively being used by Pakistani artists and graphic designers to publish their artistic expression. Bytes for All intermittently receives complaints from Deviant Art’s Pakistani subscribers regarding its inaccessibility inside Pakistan. In March 2014, it was <a href="https://aaopblog.wordpress.com/2014/03/05/deviantart-blocked-in-pakistan/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">first reported by Anime Artists of Pakistan that the website was blocked</a> in Pakistan. However, it remained accessible until recently when Bytes for All received another complaint from a Karachi based user. After several weeks of being blocked, it is now accessible again in Pakistan.</span></span></div>
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<strong style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Censorship of political dissent</span></strong></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The more concerning is the fact, the government has arbitrarily been blocking websites and blogs who would express political dissent online.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">‘Khabaristan Times’ was an online portal until January 25, 2017, who produced regular blogs on major national developments in satirical style. Sources privy to PTA confirmed to Bytes for All that they blocked the website for unspecified objectionable content. Admins of Khabaristan Times’s Facebook page on January 30 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KhabaristanTimes/?hc_ref=ARSuBIiWeciNXj1d25glmip8Nc-9Y07FmLOXQy4OGZOHDNII9Nes7Joz7PGRmp6kZqc&fref=nf" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">updated its readers that their website was blocked by the authorities</a> without serving any notice and giving chance to respond to the allegations.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">‘The Baloch Hal’ is another example of <a href="http://intellibriefs.blogspot.com/2010/11/baloch-hal-banned_10.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">crushing political dissent</a> of an ethnicity in Pakistan by the State. PTA blocked the website in 2010 and the ban still continues. This portal was the first online English language newspaper of Baluchistan province, which was founded in November 2009. Because of its liberal point of view and touching upon the sensitive conflict related issues in Baluchistan, PTA put it offline. Subsequently, the editor-in-chief of the Baloch Hal, <a href="https://thediplomat.com/2013/08/the-diplomat-interviews-alik-siraj-akbar/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Malik Siraj Akbar</a> allegedly received life threats from the government and intelligence agencies, forcing him to live in exile in the United States.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In April 2015, PTA also blocked a political forum Siasat.PK, which has a known anti-government stance. Siasat.pk is a famous platform where people express their criticism against the government. The case was reported in Pakistani media and after receiving public pressure, the government <a href="https://propakistani.pk/2015/09/11/siasat-pk-forced-by-the-government-to-shut-down/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">restored the forum</a>.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Currently, there has been an ongoing crackdown against politico-religious dissent expressed on social media, which enjoys the patronage of the State. A mass censorship campaign is being pushed through a multi-actor approach where the ministry of interior, ministry of information technology and telecommunication, federal investigation agency, PTA and Islamabad High Court (IHC) are on the driving seat.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The State has taken a strict stance against online blasphemy and criticism on Pakistan military. A petition against online blasphemy and alleged involvement of four bloggers for expressing hate against Islam and military was registered in IHC. The court ordered the concerned departments to take stringent measures for protecting the sanctity of Islam and prophet Muhammad (PBUH). PTA, PEMRA and PCP ran a coordinated media campaign warning public to limit their expression according to Article 19, whereby any expression against “integrity of Islam” and “national security” is unlawful. PTA also sent text messages (SMS) to mobile users urging them to complain against those involved in production and circulation of blasphemy or anti-military content online. PTA also wrote to the Facebook and Twitter to remove accounts and anti-Islam content from their platforms. Consequently, the Facebook and Twitter pages Mochi, Bhensa and Roshni were blocked which were managed by <a href="http://content.bytesforall.pk/node/207" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">four bloggers</a> who went missing in January 2017.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Censorship of religious expression</span></strong></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The pretext of “objectionable content” in Pakistan is overbroad and subjective. Like opposition to political dissent, religious expression of faith-based minorities is censored. Ahmadiyya, Qadiani or Lahori Group is the most persecuted community of the country, who were declared non-Muslim through 2nd Amendment in the Constitution of Pakistan in 1974. Since then, Ahmadiyya have been pushed toward the periphery of the society. The Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) criminalizes their religious expression in public. Similar to physical spaces, their religious expression in online spaces in Pakistan is also banned. In July 2012, PTA blocked Ahmadiyya website, ‘Al-Islam”, which is still inaccessible. Similarly, their other websites including official website of ‘Ahmadiyya Anjuman Isha’at-e-Islam Lahore’ and ‘The Persecution of Ahmadiyya Community’ are also blocked.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Use of intrusive FinFisher and HackingTeam solutions</span></strong></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The government has been using intrusive technology such as FinFisher that surveils private communications. FinFisher offers different <a href="https://wikileaks.org/spyfiles/files/0/310_ELAMAN-IT_INTRUSION_FINFISHER_INTRODUCTION_V02-08.pdf" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">intrusive modules</a> that silently sit in the recipient’s digital devices and enable remote surveillance such as keylogging, webcam/microphone access, and password collection. In addition, <a href="https://wikileaks.org/hackingteam/emails/emailid/616153" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Pakistan contacted HackingTeam</a> to acquire a similar type of intrusion malware suites.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Punjab government’s initiative binds all hotels in Lahore to share guests’ data including foreigners with the city police. <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1283437" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Hotel Eye software is introduced which is attached with crime database</a> in their control room. Pakistan lacks in legislative framework that would protect data of citizens.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the absence of safeguards, such as judicial oversight, state institutions have been carrying out surveillance on digital communications of individuals, groups and organisations. There is increasing concern that local law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and intelligence agencies have the ability to access into a range of devices to capture data, encrypted or otherwise. Following guidelines set out by the government, courts and ministry of information technology, PTA and multiple law enforcement agencies are able to <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1283437" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">conduct online surveillance</a> and lawfully intercept and monitor data.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The state appears to be using the 2002 Electronic Transaction Ordinance, the Investigation for Fair Trial Act 2013 and the Pakistan Telecommunications (Re-organization) Act 1996 to collect privileged communication and <a href="https://content.bytesforall.pk/node/195" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">conduct broad surveillance</a>.</span></span></div>
</h1>
<h1 id="methodology-measuring-internet-censorship-in-pakistan" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1.5rem; margin: 0px 0px 1.6em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Methodology: Measuring internet censorship in Pakistan</span></span></h1>
<h1 class="article-title" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.2rem; padding: 0px;">
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The methodology of this study includes the following:</span></span></div>
<ul style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Review of the Citizen Lab’s test list for Pakistan</span></span></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">OONI network measurement tests</span></span></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Data analysis</span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A <a href="https://github.com/citizenlab/test-lists/blob/master/lists/pk.csv" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">list of URLs</a> that are relevant and commonly accessed in Pakistan was created by the Citizen Lab in 2014 for the purpose of enabling network measurement researchers to examine their accessibility in Pakistan. As part of this study, this list of URLs was reviewed to include additional URLs which - along with <a href="https://github.com/citizenlab/test-lists/blob/master/lists/global.csv" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">other URLs</a> that are commonly accessed around the world - were tested for blocking based on <a href="https://github.com/TheTorProject/ooni-probe" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">OONI’s free software tests</a>. Such tests were run from local vantage points in Pakistan, and they also examined whether systems that are responsible for censorship, surveillance and traffic manipulation were present in the tested network. Once network measurement data was collected from these tests, the data was subsequently processed and analyzed based on a standardized set of heuristics for detecting internet censorship and traffic manipulation.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The testing period for this study started on 5th October 2014 and concluded on 22nd September 2017.</span></span></div>
</h1>
<h2 id="review-of-the-citizen-lab-s-test-list-for-pakistan" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1.15rem; margin: 3em 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Review of the Citizen Lab’s test list for Pakistan</span></span></h2>
<h1 class="article-title" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.2rem; padding: 0px;">
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">An important part of identifying censorship is determining <em style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">which</em> websites to test for blocking.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">OONI’s <a href="https://github.com/TheTorProject/ooni-probe" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">software</a> (called <em style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ooniprobe</em>) is designed to examine URLs contained in specific lists (“test lists”) for censorship. By default, ooniprobe examines the “<a href="https://github.com/citizenlab/test-lists/blob/master/lists/global.csv" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">global test list</a>”, which includes a wide range of internationally relevant websites, most of which are in English. These websites fall under <a href="https://github.com/citizenlab/test-lists/blob/master/lists/00-LEGEND-new_category_codes.csv" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">30 categories</a>, which help ensure that a wide range of different types of sites are tested.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In addition to testing the URLs included in the global test list, ooniprobe is also designed to examine a test list which is specifically created for the country that the user is running ooniprobe from, if such a list exists. Unlike the global test list, <a href="https://github.com/citizenlab/test-lists/tree/master/lists" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">country-specific test lists</a> include websites that are relevant and commonly accessed within specific countries, often in local languages. Similarly to the global test list, country-specific test lists include websites that fall under the same set of <a href="https://github.com/citizenlab/test-lists/blob/master/lists/00-LEGEND-new_category_codes.csv" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">30 categories</a>.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All test lists are managed by the <a href="https://citizenlab.org/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Citizen Lab</a> on <a href="https://github.com/citizenlab/test-lists" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">GitHub</a>. As part of this study, the <a href="https://github.com/citizenlab/test-lists/blob/master/lists/pk.csv" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Citizen Lab’s test list for Pakistan</a> was reviewed and more URLs were added to be tested for censorship. Overall, <a href="https://github.com/citizenlab/test-lists/blob/master/lists/pk.csv" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">950 URLs</a> that are relevant to Pakistan were tested. The URLs included in the Citizen Lab’s <a href="https://github.com/citizenlab/test-lists/blob/master/lists/global.csv" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">global list</a> (including 1,107 different URLs) were also tested.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is important to acknowledge that the findings of this study are only limited to the websites that were tested, and do not necessarily provide a complete view of other censorship events that may have occurred during the testing period.</span></span></div>
</h1>
<h2 id="ooni-network-measurement-tests" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1.15rem; margin: 3em 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">OONI network measurement tests</span></span></h2>
<h1 class="article-title" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.2rem; padding: 0px;">
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As part of this study, the following <a href="https://github.com/TheTorProject/ooni-probe" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">OONI software tests</a> were run:</span></span></div>
<ul style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/nettest/web-connectivity/" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Web Connectivity</span></a></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/nettest/http-invalid-request-line/" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">HTTP Invalid Request Line</span></a></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/nettest/http-header-field-manipulation/" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">HTTP Header Field Manipulation</span></a></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/nettest/vanilla-tor/" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Vanilla Tor</span></a></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/nettest/whatsapp/" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">WhatsApp</span></a></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/nettest/facebook-messenger/" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Facebook Messenger</span></a></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Web Connectivity test was run with the aim of examining whether a set of URLs (included in both the “<a href="https://github.com/citizenlab/test-lists/blob/master/lists/global.csv" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">global test list</a>” and the recently updated “<a href="https://github.com/citizenlab/test-lists/blob/master/lists/pk.csv" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Pakistani test list</a>”) were blocked during the testing period and if so, how. The Vanilla Tor test was run to examine the reachability of the <a href="https://www.torproject.org/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Tor network</a>, while the <a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/nettest/whatsapp/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">WhatsApp</a> and <a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/nettest/facebook-messenger/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Facebook Messenger</a> tests were run to examine whether these instant messaging apps were blocked in Iran during the testing period. The remaining tests were run with the aim of examining whether “middleboxes” (systems placed in the network between the user and a control server) that could potentially be responsible for censorship and/or surveillance were present in the tested networks.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The sections below document how each of these tests are designed.</span></span></div>
</h1>
<h3 id="web-connectivity" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Web Connectivity</span></span></h3>
<h1 class="article-title" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.2rem; padding: 0px;">
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This <a href="https://github.com/TheTorProject/ooni-probe/blob/master/ooni/nettests/blocking/web_connectivity.py" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">test</a> examines whether websites are reachable and if they are not, it attempts to determine whether access to them is blocked through DNS tampering, TCP/IP blocking or by a transparent HTTP proxy. Specifically, this test is designed to perform the following:</span></span></div>
<ul style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Resolver identification</span></span></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">DNS lookup</span></span></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">TCP connect</span></span></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">HTTP GET request</span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By default, this test performs the above (excluding the first step, which is performed only over the network of the user) both over a control server and over the network of the user. If the results from both networks match, then there is no clear sign of network interference; but if the results are different, the websites that the user is testing are likely censored.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Further information is provided below, explaining how each step performed under the web connectivity test works.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. Resolver identification</span></strong></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The domain name system (DNS) is what is responsible for transforming a host name (e.g. torproject.org) into an IP address (e.g. 38.229.72.16). Internet Service Providers (ISPs), amongst others, run DNS resolvers which map IP addresses to hostnames. In some circumstances though, ISPs map the requested host names to the wrong IP addresses, which is a form of tampering.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As a first step, the web connectivity test attempts to identify which DNS resolver is being used by the user. It does so by performing a DNS query to special domains (such as whoami.akamai.com) which will disclose the IP address of the resolver.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. DNS lookup</span></strong></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once the web connectivity test has identified the DNS resolver of the user, it then attempts to identify which addresses are mapped to the tested host names by the resolver. It does so by performing a DNS lookup, which asks the resolver to disclose which IP addresses are mapped to the tested host names, as well as which other host names are linked to the tested host names under DNS queries.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. TCP connect</span></strong></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The web connectivity test will then try to connect to the tested websites by attempting to establish a TCP session on port 80 (or port 443 for URLs that begin with HTTPS) for the list of IP addresses that were identified in the previous step (DNS lookup).</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4. HTTP GET request</span></strong></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As the web connectivity test connects to tested websites (through the previous step), it sends requests through the HTTP protocol to the servers which are hosting those websites. A server normally responds to an HTTP GET request with the content of the webpage that is requested.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Comparison of results: Identifying censorship</span></strong></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once the above steps of the web connectivity test are performed <em style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">both</em> over a control server and over the network of the user, the collected results are then compared with the aim of identifying whether and how tested websites are tampered with. If the compared results do <em style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">not</em> match, then there is a sign of network interference.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below are the conditions under which the following types of blocking are identified:</span></span></div>
<ul style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">DNS blocking:</strong> If the DNS responses (such as the IP addresses mapped to host names) do <em style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">not</em> match.</span></span></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">TCP/IP blocking:</strong> If a TCP session to connect to websites was <em style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">not</em> established over the network of the user.</span></span></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">HTTP blocking:</strong> If the HTTP request over the user’s network failed, or the HTTP status codes don’t match, or all of the following apply:</span></span></div>
<ul style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The body length of compared websites (over the control server and the network of the user) differs by some percentage</span></span></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The HTTP headers names do not match</span></span></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The HTML title tags do not match</span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s important to note, however, that DNS resolvers, such as Google or a local ISP, often provide users with IP addresses that are closest to them geographically. Often this is <em style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">not</em> done with the intent of network tampering, but merely for the purpose of providing users with localized content or faster access to websites. As a result, some false positives might arise in OONI measurements. Other false positives might occur when tested websites serve different content depending on the country that the user is connecting from, or in the cases when websites return failures even though they are not tampered with.</span></span></div>
</h1>
<h3 id="http-invalid-request-line-test" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">HTTP Invalid Request Line test</span></span></h3>
<h1 class="article-title" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.2rem; padding: 0px;">
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This <a href="https://github.com/TheTorProject/ooni-probe/blob/master/ooni/nettests/manipulation/http_invalid_request_line.py" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">test</a> tries to detect the presence of network components (“middle box”) which could be responsible for censorship and/or traffic manipulation.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Instead of sending a normal HTTP request, this test sends an invalid HTTP request line - containing an invalid HTTP version number, an invalid field count and a huge request method – to an echo service listening on the standard HTTP port. An echo service is a very useful debugging and measurement tool, which simply sends back to the originating source any data it receives. If a middle box is not present in the network between the user and an echo service, then the echo service will send the invalid HTTP request line back to the user, exactly as it received it. In such cases, there is no visible traffic manipulation in the tested network.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If, however, a middle box is present in the tested network, the invalid HTTP request line will be intercepted by the middle box and this may trigger an error and that will subsequently be sent back to OONI’s server. Such errors indicate that software for traffic manipulation is likely placed in the tested network, though it’s not always clear what that software is. In some cases though, censorship and/or surveillance vendors can be identified through the error messages in the received HTTP response. Based on this technique, OONI has previously <a href="https://explorer.ooni.torproject.org/highlights/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">detected</a> the use of BlueCoat, Squid and Privoxy proxy technologies in networks across multiple countries around the world.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s important though to note that a false negative could potentially occur in the hypothetical instance that ISPs are using highly sophisticated censorship and/or surveillance software that is specifically designed to not trigger errors when receiving invalid HTTP request lines like the ones of this test. Furthermore, the presence of a middle box is not necessarily indicative of traffic manipulation, as they are often used in networks for caching purposes.</span></span></div>
</h1>
<h3 id="http-header-field-manipulation-test" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">HTTP Header Field Manipulation test</span></span></h3>
<h1 class="article-title" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.2rem; padding: 0px;">
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This <a href="https://github.com/TheTorProject/ooni-probe/blob/master/ooni/nettests/manipulation/http_header_field_manipulation.py" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">test</a> also tries to detect the presence of network components (“middle box”) which could be responsible for censorship and/or traffic manipulation.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">HTTP is a protocol which transfers or exchanges data across the internet. It does so by handling a client’s request to connect to a server, and a server’s response to a client’s request. Every time a user connects to a server, the user (client) sends a request through the HTTP protocol to that server. Such requests include “HTTP headers”, which transmit various types of information, including the user’s device operating system and the type of browser that is being used. If Firefox is used on Windows, for example, the “user agent header” in the HTTP request will tell the server that a Firefox browser is being used on a Windows operating system.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This test emulates an HTTP request towards a server, but sends HTTP headers that have variations in capitalization. In other words, this test sends HTTP requests which include valid, but non-canonical HTTP headers. Such requests are sent to a backend control server which sends back any data it receives. If OONI receives the HTTP headers exactly as they were sent, then there is no visible presence of a “middle box” in the network that could be responsible for censorship, surveillance and/or traffic manipulation. If, however, such software is present in the tested network, it will likely normalize the invalid headers that are sent or add extra headers.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Depending on whether the HTTP headers that are sent and received from a backend control server are the same or not, OONI is able to evaluate whether software – which could be responsible for traffic manipulation – is present in the tested network.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">False negatives, however, could potentially occur in the hypothetical instance that ISPs are using highly sophisticated software that is specifically designed to not interfere with HTTP headers when it receives them. Furthermore, the presence of a middle box is not necessarily indicative of traffic manipulation, as they are often used in networks for caching purposes.</span></span></div>
</h1>
<h3 id="vanilla-tor-test" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Vanilla Tor test</span></span></h3>
<h1 class="article-title" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.2rem; padding: 0px;">
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This <a href="https://github.com/TheTorProject/ooni-probe/blob/master/ooni/nettests/blocking/vanilla_tor.py" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">test</a> examines the reachability of the <a href="https://www.torproject.org/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Tor network</a>, which is designed for online anonymity and censorship circumvention.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Vanilla Tor test attempts to start a connection to the Tor network. If the test successfully bootstraps a connection within a predefined amount of seconds (300 by default), then Tor is considered to be reachable from the vantage point of the user. But if the test does not manage to establish a connection, then the Tor network is likely blocked within the tested network.</span></span></div>
</h1>
<h3 id="whatsapp-test" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">WhatsApp test</span></span></h3>
<h1 class="article-title" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.2rem; padding: 0px;">
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This <a href="https://github.com/TheTorProject/ooni-probe/blob/master/ooni/nettests/blocking/whatsapp.py" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">test</a> is designed to examine the reachability of both WhatsApp’s app and the WhatsApp web version within a network.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">OONI’s WhatsApp test attempts to perform an HTTP GET request, TCP connection and DNS lookup to WhatsApp’s endpoints, registration service and web version over the vantage point of the user. Based on this methodology, WhatsApp’s <em style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">app</em> is likely blocked if any of the following apply:</span></span></div>
<ul style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">TCP connections to WhatsApp’s endpoints fail;</span></span></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">TCP connections to WhatsApp’s registration service fail;</span></span></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">DNS lookups resolve to IP addresses that are <em style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">not</em> allocated to WhatsApp;</span></span></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">HTTP requests to WhatsApp’s registration service do <em style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">not</em> send back a response to OONI’s servers.</span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">WhatsApp’s web interface (web.whatsapp.com) is likely if any of the following apply:</span></span></div>
<ul style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">TCP connections to web.whatsapp.com fail;</span></span></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">DNS lookups illustrate that a different IP address has been allocated to web.whatsapp.com;</span></span></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">HTTP requests to web.whatsapp.com do <em style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">not</em> send back a consistent response to OONI’s servers.</span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
</h1>
<h3 id="facebook-messenger-test" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Facebook Messenger test</span></span></h3>
<h1 class="article-title" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.2rem; padding: 0px;">
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This <a href="https://github.com/TheTorProject/ooni-probe/blob/master/ooni/nettests/blocking/facebook_messenger.py" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">test</a> is designed to examine the reachability of Facebook Messenger within a tested network.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">OONI’s Facebook Messenger test attempts to perform a TCP connection and DNS lookup to Facebook’s endpoints over the vantage point of the user. Based on this methodology, Facebook Messenger is likely blocked if one or both of the following apply:</span></span></div>
<ul style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">TCP connections to Facebook’s endpoints fail;</span></span></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">DNS lookups to domains associated to Facebook do <em style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">not</em> resolve to IP addresses allocated to Facebook.</span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
</h1>
<h2 id="data-analysis" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1.15rem; margin: 3em 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Data analysis</span></span></h2>
<h1 class="article-title" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.2rem; padding: 0px;">
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">OONI’s <a href="https://github.com/TheTorProject/ooni-pipeline" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">data pipeline</a> processes all network measurements that it collects, including the following types of data:</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Country code</span></strong></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">OONI by default collects the code which corresponds to the country from which the user is running ooniprobe tests from, by automatically searching for it based on the user’s IP address through the <a href="https://www.maxmind.com/en/home" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">MaxMind GeoIP database</a>. The collection of country codes is an important part of OONI’s research, as it enables OONI to map out global network measurements and to identify where network interferences take place.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Autonomous System Number (ASN)</span></strong></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">OONI by default collects the Autonomous System Number (ASN) which corresponds to the network that a user is running ooniprobe tests from. The collection of the ASN is useful to OONI’s research because it reveals the specific network provider (such as Vodafone) of a user. Such information can increase transparency in regards to which network providers are implementing censorship or other forms of network interference.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Date and time of measurements</span></strong></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">OONI by default collects the time and date of when tests were run. This information helps OONI evaluate when network interferences occur and to compare them across time.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">IP addresses and other information</span></strong></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">OONI does <em style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">not</em> deliberately collect or store users’ IP addresses. In fact, OONI takes measures to remove users’ IP addresses from the collected measurements, to protect its users from <a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/about/risks/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">potential risks</a>.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However, OONI might <em style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">unintentionally</em> collect users’ IP addresses and other potentially personally-identifiable information, if such information is included in the HTTP headers or other metadata of measurements. This, for example, can occur if the tested websites include tracking technologies or custom content based on a user’s network location.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Network measurements</span></strong></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The types of network measurements that OONI collects depend on the types of tests that are run. Specifications about each OONI test can be viewed through its <a href="https://github.com/TheTorProject/ooni-spec/tree/master/test-specs" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">git repository</a>, and details about what collected network measurements entail can be viewed through <a href="https://explorer.ooni.torproject.org/world/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">OONI Explorer</a> or through OONI’s <a href="https://api.ooni.io/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">API</a>.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">OONI processes the above types of data with the aim of deriving meaning from the collected measurements and, specifically, in an attempt to answer the following types of questions:</span></span></div>
<ul style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Which types of OONI tests were run?</span></span></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In which countries were those tests run?</span></span></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In which networks were those tests run?</span></span></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When were tests run?</span></span></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What types of network interference occurred?</span></span></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In which countries did network interference occur?</span></span></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In which networks did network interference occur?</span></span></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When did network interference occur?</span></span></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How did network interference occur?</span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To answer such questions, OONI’s pipeline is designed to process data which is automatically sent to OONI’s measurement collector by default. The initial processing of network measurements enables the following:</span></span></div>
<ul style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Attributing measurements to a specific country.</span></span></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Attributing measurements to a specific network within a country.</span></span></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Distinguishing measurements based on the specific tests that were run for their collection.</span></span></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Distinguishing between “normal” and “anomalous” measurements (the latter indicating that a form of network tampering is likely present).</span></span></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Identifying the type of network interference based on a set of heuristics for DNS tampering, TCP/IP blocking, and HTTP blocking.</span></span></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Identifying block pages based on a set of heuristics for HTTP blocking.</span></span></div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.2em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Identifying the presence of “middleboxes” within tested networks.</span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However, false positives can emerge within the processed data due to a number of reasons. As explained previously (section on “OONI network measurements”), DNS resolvers (operated by Google or a local ISP) often provide users with IP addresses that are closest to them geographically. While this may appear to be a case of DNS tampering, it is actually done with the intention of providing users with faster access to websites. Similarly, false positives may emerge when tested websites serve different content depending on the country that the user is connecting from, or in the cases when websites return failures even though they are not tampered with.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Furthermore, measurements indicating HTTP or TCP/IP blocking might actually be due to temporary HTTP or TCP/IP failures, and may not conclusively be a sign of network interference. It is therefore important to test the same sets of websites across time and to cross-correlate data, prior to reaching a conclusion on whether websites are in fact being blocked.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since block pages differ from country to country and sometimes even from network to network, it is quite challenging to accurately identify them. OONI uses a series of heuristics to try to guess if the page in question differs from the expected control, but these heuristics can often result in false positives. For this reason OONI only says that there is a confirmed instance of blocking when a block page is detected.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">OONI’s methodology for detecting the presence of “middleboxes” - systems that could be responsible for censorship, surveillance and traffic manipulation - can also present false negatives, if ISPs are using highly sophisticated software that is specifically designed to <em style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">not</em> interfere with HTTP headers when it receives them, or to <em style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">not</em> trigger error messages when receiving invalid HTTP request lines. It remains unclear though if such software is being used. Moreover, it’s important to note that the presence of a middle box is not necessarily indicative of censorship or traffic manipulation, as such systems are often used in networks for caching purposes.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Upon collection of more network measurements, OONI continues to develop its data analysis heuristics, based on which it attempts to accurately identify censorship events.</span></span></div>
</h1>
<h1 id="findings" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1.5rem; margin: 0px 0px 1.6em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Findings</span></span></h1>
<h1 class="article-title" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.2rem; padding: 0px;">
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We <strong style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">confirm the blocking of 210 websites</strong> in Pakistan over the last three years, all of which are available <a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan/pk-blocked-sites.csv" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">here</a>. <a href="https://api.ooni.io/files/by_country/PK" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Network measurements</a> collected from 22 local networks show that ISPs blocked these sites by means of DNS tampering and by serving block pages through the use of HTTP transparent proxies.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many block pages were only served for specific web pages hosted on HTTP, rather than for entire services (which could potentially lead to certain political and/or social cost). It’s worth noting though that we didn’t find any sites hosted on HTTPS to be blocked in the country throughout the testing period, and that many of the blocked URLs now support HTTPS.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Censorship in Pakistan, according to <a href="https://api.ooni.io/files/by_country/PK" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">OONI data</a>, is mostly limited to pornography (which is <a href="http://www.supremecourt.gov.pk/ijc/articles/10/1.pdf" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">illegal</a> in Pakistan) and to sites hosting religious content considered blasphemous and political dissent. We also found a relatively large amount of circumvention tool sites (mainly web proxies) to be blocked, along with various other types of sites that fall under 22 different categories overall, as illustrated in the graph below.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img alt="PK graph" src="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan/graph.png" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px;" /></span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These sites were not found to be blocked by all ISPs in Pakistan during the testing period, particularly since most network measurements were only collected from one network. A database detailing how and which URLs were blocked (and not blocked) across the 22 probed ISPs is available <strong style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan/pk-blocked-not-blocked-urls.csv" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">here</a></strong>.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://khabaristantimes.com/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Khabaristan Times</a>, a Pakistani news satire publication that reports on national and local issues, was <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1311656/satire-website-khabaristan-times-blocked-in-pakistan" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">reportedly blocked</a>in January 2017. As part of our testing, we collected <a href="https://explorer.ooni.torproject.org/measurement/20170822T010829Z_AS45595_q38vxV4VoLi5d4iwhXEijjmMr7HzKbC1bL4iI2MfcftuRzMu3x?input=https:%2F%2Fkhabaristantimes.com%2F" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">one measurement</a> indicating that this site was likely blocked by means of DNS tampering. This is also consistent with what locals in Pakistan reported to be experiencing when attempting to access khabaristantimes.com, which points to a message saying that the DNS address for the site could not be found. While we think it’s most likely the case that this site is blocked in Pakistan by means of DNS tampering, we cannot confirm this finding since only <a href="https://explorer.ooni.torproject.org/measurement/20170822T010829Z_AS45595_q38vxV4VoLi5d4iwhXEijjmMr7HzKbC1bL4iI2MfcftuRzMu3x?input=https:%2F%2Fkhabaristantimes.com%2F" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">one measurement</a> was collected during the testing period of this study.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Multiple middleboxes were detected across networks in Pakistan. However, it remains unclear whether these middleboxes are used for implementing internet censorship or for other networking purposes (such as cache-loading).</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In general, most international sites and services were accessible, and OONI’s <a href="https://explorer.ooni.torproject.org/measurement/20170906T010149Z_AS45595_BQzV48aUdUw2ebx4eqFb8jk64mrTKHzn2WkSHHCtzwx7hIeM2E" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">WhatsApp</a> and <a href="https://explorer.ooni.torproject.org/measurement/20170906T010159Z_AS45595_rIvlQSTc30PELI3w2VCF3ErA5I8kN9JZgwQsLAYC4qo8wnPY3j" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Facebook Messenger tests</a>confirmed the accessibility of these apps during the testing period. Censorship circumvention tools, such as the <a href="https://www.torproject.org/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Tor network</a>, were mostly <a href="https://explorer.ooni.torproject.org/measurement/20170906T010438Z_AS45595_YT4qiR9G0FUiL6YCllSLRfXUBR9UuP15PlR9PfN6n3CLgRhB7U" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">accessible</a>.</span></span></div>
</h1>
<h2 id="minority-groups" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1.15rem; margin: 3em 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Minority groups</span></span></h2>
<h1 class="article-title" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.2rem; padding: 0px;">
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Baluchis are an <a href="http://minorityrights.org/minorities/baluchis/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">ethnic minority in Pakistan</a> and one of Asia’s cross-border minorities, divided between Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan. Since 1948, the <a href="https://blogs.wsj.com/briefly/2016/08/17/what-is-pakistans-balochistan-insurgency-and-why-is-indias-modi-talking-about-it-the-short-answer/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Baluch nationalists have waged a guerilla war</a> against the government of Pakistan, demanding political autonomy and greater control over Balochistan’s natural resources. Amnesty International <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/press-releases/2011/02/pakistan-balochistan-atrocities-continue-rise/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">reported</a>that many Baluch activists, teachers, journalists, and lawyers have disappeared or been murdered in “kill and dump” operations by authorities, while attacks by Baluch armed groups have endangered civilians.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As part of this study, we found various Baluch sites to be blocked, as illustrated in the table below.</span></span></div>
<table style="animation: float 5s ease 0s infinite normal none running; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-collapse: collapse; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 5px 10px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 5px;"><thead style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<tr style="border-bottom: none; border-top: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><th style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom: 4px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-left-radius: 3px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; font-weight: 100; margin: 0px; padding: 1em; text-align: left; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Probed ASN</span></span></th><th style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom: 4px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; font-weight: 100; margin: 0px; padding: 1em; text-align: left; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Blocked URL</span></span></th><th style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom: 4px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right: none; border-top-right-radius: 3px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; font-weight: 100; margin: 0px; padding: 1em; text-align: left; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Blockpage</span></span></th></tr>
</thead><tbody style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.BalochVoice.com</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-micronet-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.BalochVoice.com</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://balochwarna.org</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-micronet-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://balochwarna.org</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.bso-na.org</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-micronet-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.bso-na.org</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.ostomaan.org</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-micronet-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.ostomaan.org</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.radiobalochi.org</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://governmentofbalochistan.blogspot.com</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-micronet-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.BalochFront.com</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-micronet-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.balochunitedfront.org</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.balochwarna.com</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-micronet-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.balochwarna.com</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.thebalochhal.com</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-micronet-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: none; border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.thebalochhal.com</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The <a href="https://explorer.ooni.torproject.org/measurement/20161213T004033Z_AS23674_vJNhwc70PgfRrEDTtXT4mILP82HW4D06nOWZzsJlqZ2IB1RwS8?input=http:%2F%2Fwww.ostomaan.org" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">blocked</a> URLs include the <a href="http://www.ostomaan.org/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">site</a> of the Sweden-based Baluchistan People’s Party, which <a href="http://www.ostomaan.org/articles/human-rights" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">reports</a> on human rights violations against the Baluchi. Other blocked URLs include Baluch news sites and independence sites, the blocking of which can probably be attributed to the sensitive political climate. The blocking of balochvoice.com, which currently<a href="http://www.balochvoice.com/about/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">serves</em></a> as a resource for Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and online marketing, suggests that Pakistani ISPs might be blocking Baluch sites almost indiscriminately.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Hazara ethnic minority in Pakistan has also experienced discrimination and abuse by authorities, as <a href="https://www.hrw.org/report/2014/06/29/we-are-walking-dead/killings-shia-hazara-balochistan-pakistan" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">reported</a> by Human Rights Watch. <a href="https://explorer.ooni.torproject.org/measurement/20161213T004033Z_AS23674_vJNhwc70PgfRrEDTtXT4mILP82HW4D06nOWZzsJlqZ2IB1RwS8?input=http:%2F%2Fwww.hazara.net" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">OONI data</a> confirms the blocking of hazara.net, a non-profit which emerged in 1998 as a “direct response to the Hazara genocide in Afghanistan” and which <a href="http://www.hazara.net/about-us/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">reports</a> on human rights abuse against the Hazara community.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s worth noting that none of the blocked Baluchi sites, nor hazara.net, support encrypted HTTPS connections. As a result, the blocking of these sites is enforced more than that of other blocked sites that support HTTPS (potentially enabling censorship circumvention).</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A list of all other observed blocked sites in Pakistan is available <strong style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan/pk-blocked-sites.csv" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">here</a></strong>.</span></span></div>
</h1>
<h2 id="religious-criticism" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1.15rem; margin: 3em 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Religious criticism</span></span></h2>
<h1 class="article-title" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.2rem; padding: 0px;">
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Blasphemy is a serious crime in Pakistan. Penalties for blasphemy against Islam, under <a href="https://www.oecd.org/site/adboecdanti-corruptioninitiative/46816797.pdf" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Pakistan’s Penal Code</a>, can range from a fine to a death sentence. According to OONI testing, this prohibition is also enforced in the digital world.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many of the URLs that we found to be blocked in Pakistan express criticism towards Islam, prophet Mohammad and other sacred personalities of religion Islam (and can be viewed as blasphemous), as illustrated in the table below.</span></span></div>
<table style="animation: float 5s ease 0s infinite normal none running; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-collapse: collapse; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 5px 10px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 5px;"><thead style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<tr style="border-bottom: none; border-top: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><th style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom: 4px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-left-radius: 3px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; font-weight: 100; margin: 0px; padding: 1em; text-align: left; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Probed ASN</span></span></th><th style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom: 4px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; font-weight: 100; margin: 0px; padding: 1em; text-align: left; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Blocked URL</span></span></th><th style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom: 4px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right: none; border-top-right-radius: 3px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; font-weight: 100; margin: 0px; padding: 1em; text-align: left; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Blockpage</span></span></th></tr>
</thead><tbody style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://face-of-muhammed.blogspot.com</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-micronet-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.jihadwatch.org</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-micronet-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://atheism.about.com/od/prophetmuhammadofislam/ig/Muhammad-Drawings-Pictures/</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://dreamdogsart.typepad.com/art/2010/05/lars-vilks-muhammad-cartoon-dog-artist-attacked.html</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everybody_Draw_Mohammed_Day</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jyllands-Posten-pg3-article-in-Sept-30-2005-edition-of-KulturWeekend-entitled-Muhammeds-ansigt.png</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jyllands-Posten_Muhammad_cartoons_controversy</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lars_Vilks_Muhammad_drawings_controversy</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/gabriel</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://europenews.dk/en/node/32286</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://everybodydrawmohammedday.wordpress.com</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://face-of-muhammed.blogspot.com</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://friendlyatheist.com/2010/05/20/draw-muhammad-day-a-compilation/</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://islam-watch.org</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://islamizationwatch.blogspot.com/2010/04/everybody-draw-mohammed-day-grows-in.html</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://twitter.com/MuhammadtheProp</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://twitter.com/ProphetMuhammad</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread564561/pg1</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.bibleprobe.com/muhammad-cartoons.htm</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.buzzfeed.com/robertlangdon/the-prophet-muhammad-in-a-bear-suit-express-you</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.cagle.com/news/muhammad/</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.drawmohammed.com</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.islam-watch.org</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.prophetofdoom.net</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.sodahead.com/united-states/seattle-cartoonist-launches-everybody-draw-mohammed-day-you-in/question-984209/</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T9UhBhTl9Q&feature=related</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Wu5e50zrPA&feature=fvst</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L2ouAN770U&feature=related</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sD-1-1sbik</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43LMQXYhyt0&feature=related</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMRaxkgCUfI&feature=related</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlYLKf4q2rg</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyKdYTzMqWo&feature=related</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMz0aIM2_sM</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJMlgmwHN9E</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zsv1SToU1xo&feature=related</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4yfG5dAZdU</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKJtedW9KN4&feature=related</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nycuLpw0VV8&feature=related</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDrti5T93T8</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5rPSTLy394&NR=1</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5rPSTLy394&feature=related?http://www.xroxy.com/</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7ok4njJXI8</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.zimbio.com/War+on+Terrorism/articles/6NAIGjWobep/WASHINGTON+POST+Seattle+cartoonist+Molly+Norris</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.zombietime.com/mohammed_image_archive/</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS23674</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">https://barenakedislam.wordpress.com/2010/05/02/muslim-hackers-get-their-filthy-finger-licken-hands-on-kfc-website/</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="border-bottom: none; border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0px 1px 1px;"><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS24499</span></span></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-right: 1px solid rgb(193, 195, 209); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><code style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.prophetofdoom.net</span></code></td><td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-right: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 20px; text-align: right; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) -1px -1px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">id-surf-safe-0</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Most of the blocked URLs host content pertaining to “<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2015/05/04/just-what-have-we-learned-five-years-after-everybody-draw-muhammad-day/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Everybody Draw Mohammed Day</a>”, a controversial and viral online campaign that encouraged artists around the world to draw representations of the Islamic prophet Mohammed. U.S. cartoonist Molly Norris started the campaign in 2010 in response to online death threats made against the creators of the “South Park” show, which attempted to satirize the Islamic prophet Mohammed.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many web pages, including satirical (and arguably offensive) representations of Mohammed as part of the “Draw Mohammed Day” campaign, are hosted on internationally popular platforms, such as youtube.com, twitter.com and buzzfeed.com. Rather than blocking access to the entire services, <a href="https://api.ooni.io/files/by_country/PK" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">OONI data</a> shows that Pakistani ISPs selectively censored those web pages during the testing period. This was possible in previous years, when OONI testing started in Pakistan, since those sites did not support HTTPS at the time. Today though, such sites automatically redirect users to HTTPS and it’s not possible for the censor to tailor censorship to specific content of encrypted sites.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rather than blocking the HTTPS version of sites (making popular services completely inaccessible), Pakistan has taken a different approach. As of January 2016, Pakistan has a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-youtube/pakistan-lifts-ban-on-youtube-after-launch-of-local-version" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">localized version of YouTube</a> that allows the government to demand removal of material it considers illegal or offensive. Google has argued that it will only remove content following a review process that examines whether government requests are in compliance with the country’s laws.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many other sites hosting content considered blasphemous towards Islam were found to be blocked, as illustrated in the above table. These include a YouTube clip featuring “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/mar/28/thefitnafarce" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Fitna</a>”, a 2008 short film by Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders, which can be perceived as inciting hatred towards Muslims. In 2008, Pakistan initially tried to ban this film by blocking access to YouTube entirely. But after a Pakistani ISP <a href="https://www.wired.com/2008/02/pakistans-accid/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">accidentally blocked worldwide (instead of domestic) access to youtube.com</a> for several hours, the censorship was then limited to the specific HTTP Youtube page hosting the film.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Even though the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Wikipedia page on Muhammed</a> is not linked (at least not directly) to “Draw Mohammed Day”, we found it to be <a href="https://explorer.ooni.torproject.org/measurement/20161212T004141Z_AS23674_W2yhllm3j5VUt4gSaNJ7FCQ4c9tFmcb5LY1fRxVKm21eJEVF91?input=http:%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FMuhammad" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">blocked</a> as well.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A list of all other observed blocked sites in Pakistan is available <strong style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/post/pakistan/pk-blocked-sites.csv" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">here</a></strong>.</span></span></div>
</h1>
<h3 id="acknowledgement-of-limitations" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Acknowledgement of limitations</span></span></h3>
<h1 class="article-title" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.2rem; padding: 0px;">
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The findings of this study present limitations.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The first limitation is associated with the testing period. This study includes an analysis of <a href="https://measurements.ooni.torproject.org/files/by_country/PK" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">thousands of network measurements</a> collected from 22 networks in Pakistan over the last three years, between 5th October 2014 to 22nd September 2017. Censorship events that may have occurred before and/or after the testing period are not analysed as part of this study.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another limitation to this study is associated to the amount and types of URLs that were tested for censorship. As mentioned in the methodology section of this report, OONI’s <a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/nettest/web-connectivity/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Web Connectivity test</a> was run to examine the accessibility of <a href="https://github.com/citizenlab/test-lists/blob/master/lists/pk.csv" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">950 URLs</a> that are more relevant to the Pakistani context and <a href="https://github.com/citizenlab/test-lists/blob/master/lists/global.csv" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">1,107 internationally relevant sites</a>. All of these URLs were selected and categorized in collaboration with community members over the last years. We acknowledge that some URLs might potentially be mis-categorized, the selection of the URLs may have been biased, and that the testing sample of URLs might exclude many other sites that are also blocked in Pakistan. We therefore encourage researchers and community members to continue <a href="https://ooni.torproject.org/get-involved/contribute-test-lists/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">reviewing and contributing to these test lists</a>, to help improve future research and analysis.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finally, while network measurements were collected from 22 local vantage points in Pakistan, <a href="https://github.com/TheTorProject/ooni-probe" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">OONI’s software tests</a>were not run consistently across all networks. The vast majority of measurements were only collected from one network (AS23674).</span></span></div>
</h1>
<h1 id="conclusion" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1.5rem; margin: 0px 0px 1.6em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Conclusion</span></span></h1>
<h1 class="article-title" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.2rem; padding: 0px;">
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://api.ooni.io/files/by_country/PK" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">OONI network measurements</a> collected from Pakistan over the last three years confirm the blocking of 210 websites, many of which express religious criticism and are considered blasphemous under Pakistan’s Penal Code for hosting content related to the controversial “Draw Mohammed Day”. We also found a relatively large amount of web proxies to be blocked, though censorship circumvention tools, like the Tor network, were mostly accessible throughout the testing period.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pakistani ISPs appear to be applying “smart filters”, selectively blocking specific HTTP web pages that host illegal or offensive content, rather than blocking entire services. This was particularly observed when such content is hosted on popular platforms, like youtube.com or twitter.com, potentially suggesting a certain social and/or political cost to implementing censorship. Many of those web pages now support HTTPS, enabling censorship circumvention. We didn’t find any HTTPS sites to be blocked during the testing period.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Most internationally popular sites and services, like <a href="https://explorer.ooni.torproject.org/measurement/20170906T010149Z_AS45595_BQzV48aUdUw2ebx4eqFb8jk64mrTKHzn2WkSHHCtzwx7hIeM2E" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">WhatsApp</a> and <a href="https://explorer.ooni.torproject.org/measurement/20170906T010159Z_AS45595_rIvlQSTc30PELI3w2VCF3ErA5I8kN9JZgwQsLAYC4qo8wnPY3j" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Facebook Messenger</a>, were accessible in Pakistan. Minority groups however likely have a harder time expressing their voices online, as suggested by the <a href="https://explorer.ooni.torproject.org/measurement/20170822T010829Z_AS45595_q38vxV4VoLi5d4iwhXEijjmMr7HzKbC1bL4iI2MfcftuRzMu3x?input=http:%2F%2Fwww.balochwarna.com" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">blocking of various Baluchi</a> and <a href="https://explorer.ooni.torproject.org/measurement/20161213T004033Z_AS23674_vJNhwc70PgfRrEDTtXT4mILP82HW4D06nOWZzsJlqZ2IB1RwS8?input=http:%2F%2Fwww.hazara.net" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Hazara</a> sites. The fact that a wide range of Baluchi sites were blocked also indicates that internet censorship in Pakistan may be implemented to reinforce geopolitical dynamics of power.</span></span></div>
</h1>
<h1 id="acknowledgements" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1.5rem; margin: 0px 0px 1.6em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Acknowledgements</span></span></h1>
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<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We thank all the anonymous volunteers in Pakistan who have run and continue to run ooniprobe, thus making this research possible.</span></span></div>
</h1>
</div>
Haroon Balochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05458994835813009410noreply@blogger.com0Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan33.6844202 73.0478848000000233.261279699999996 72.402437800000015 34.1075607 73.693331800000024tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319461158663863917.post-53030973232250320472017-05-25T20:43:00.000+05:002018-11-18T20:46:57.279+05:00Speechless Republic<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://bytesforall.pk/sites/default/files/AIMR-Social-Media-Banned-fb-ad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="566" height="400" src="https://bytesforall.pk/sites/default/files/AIMR-Social-Media-Banned-fb-ad.jpg" width="282" /></a></div>
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<br />
May 25, 2017<br />
<br />
By Haroon Baloch<br />
<br />
Pakistan’s human rights record, specifically when it comes to civil liberties, is dismal. In next July, the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva is due to review Pakistan’s performance under International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It is the first time since 2010 when Pakistan ratified this UN convention which deals with fundamental rights including freedom of expression, the right to information, assembly, association, privacy, and religion among others. Another important event vis-a-vis human rights will take place in November 2017, again in Geneva, where the UN Human Rights Council will take a holistic review of human rights in Pakistan under its unique instrument — Universal Periodic Review. Several civil society groups and individuals have submitted shadow reports on different thematic areas parallel to the state’s reports for these two reviews. Nonetheless, there has been a progression in human rights violations, but the state staunchly believes that all rights are well protected and promoted according to global standards.<br />
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Is it so? A quick review of civil liberties, especially in reference to online expression in Pakistan and how the government is trying to circumcise this freedom rejects its claims. Kicking off with unfortunate abductions of five bloggers and a minority rights activist, 2017 so far has proven perilous for political dissent. At least three of the abducted bloggers were vocal for criticising military policies, particularly its approach towards combating terrorism. These abductions triggered a wave of intolerance across the country and resulted in the haunting environment to further intimidate questioning voices and those touching upon the tabooed areas. The country witnessed an unprecedented rise in blasphemy cases originating from rapidly growing dangerous online spaces for citizen’s political dissent. The reason was obvious that some ‘unidentified angles’ or so-called ‘cyber troopers’ purportedly associated with ‘holy cows’ painted the bloggers’ abductions as punishment for allegedly committing blasphemy.<br />
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Smelling the danger, bloggers’ families had to hold a press conference in Islamabad to dispel the false propaganda and circulated a disclaimer categorically stating that they were Muslims and could not even think of profaning Islam. In Pakistan, insanity always prevailed over wisdom whenever the claim is of religious defilement. And it’s a naked truth that justice to blasphemy accused has always been done extra-judicially in Pakistan, as we witnessed in the case of Mashal Khan more recently. The frequency of cases pertaining to online blasphemy in Pakistan has risen in two years’ time. Bytes for All’s monitoring records of one-year (May 2016 to May 2017) contains at least eight cases where blasphemy accusations were levelled against individuals for their online religious expression.<br />
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Besides these bloggers, former governor Punjab Salman Taseer’s son Shaan Taseer was also accused of spreading religious hatred and committing blasphemy on Facebook, when he extended Christmas greetings to Christians. At least two blasphemy accused in recent times belong to Christianity. These included a case of WhatsApp message being circulated in Sarai Alamgir that allegedly carried blasphemous content. Another case merely started with liking the picture of Khana Kaaba on Facebook by a Christian teenager Nabeel Masih of Chak 66 in Bhai Pheru. Other trends include the government’s nondemocratic approach towards law making that aims to restrict and criminalise online expression. An overbroad Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 is one of the results. Although the entire law is not problematic, however, it contains several provisions that suggest heightened punishments that do not meet the criteria of necessity and proportionality. Such as the outdated concept of defamation that gradually is being decriminalised by modern democracies to avoid misuse of related laws against journalists, activists or ordinary citizens. In contrast, the PECA suggests a three-year imprisonment or one million rupees fine or both for offences related to defamation originating from the shrinking cyberspaces.<br />
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Similarly, any online expression or content that the state deems ‘unlawful’, which is a subjective term, will also be removed or censored. Although the government has not officially confirmed, however, sources privy to Pakistan Telecommunication Authority have informed that the authority blocked several websites and pages that published objectionable content using PECA Section 37. Khabaristan Times, a satirical online newspaper, is one of the examples.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
An overbroad Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 shows government’s non-democratic approach towards legislation. Although the entire law is not problematic, however, it contains several provisions that suggest heightened punishments that do not meet the criteria of necessity and proportionality</blockquote>
The announced ongoing crackdown against ordinary citizens, political workers and journalists who took to the social media to criticise military on the issue of Dawn Leaks, has rung the alarms within right-wing political parties who earlier had supported the making of such laws aiming at circumcising political dissent. Federal Investigation Agency so far has summoned several political workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf and ruling party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz for criticising military.<br />
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Still, the list is long and the battleground for next general elections is fast-approaching. Social media was the most effective tool for campaigning and mobilising people for a vote in 2013 polls. However, this time draconian laws have already been promulgated and practised, threatening to limit free speech because the state has yet not been acclimatised to democracy where the freedom of expression is the cornerstone of success. And insanity is the word — I dare using for this matter. All is terrorising, intimidating and daunting. Still, the government is adamant to tighten the noose around its own neck, and circumcising the liberty to speak.<br />
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The writer is a journalist and digital rights researcher affiliated with Bytes for All, Pakistan. Approach him on Twitter @advertbalcha</div>
Haroon Balochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05458994835813009410noreply@blogger.com0Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan33.6844202 73.0478848000000233.261279699999996 72.402437800000015 34.1075607 73.693331800000024tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319461158663863917.post-68779724382824682652017-05-09T20:35:00.000+05:002018-11-18T20:41:12.325+05:00Silencing dissent<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<br />
May 9, 2017<br />
<br />
By Haroon Baloch<br />
<br />
For some time now, I have been restricting my speech — which may otherwise be perfectly lawful — out of fear of being labelled a blasphemer or a traitor<br />
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Never before now had I thought about my personal safety since friends and close acquaintances frequently advise me to be cautious in view of the increasingly intimidating atmosphere in the country.<br />
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For some time now I have been restricting my speech, which may otherwise be perfectly lawful, out of fear of being labelled a blasphemer or a traitor. Critical and dissenting speech is rapidly being circumcised and criminalised in Pakistan, either through disproportionate laws or by vigilantism.<br />
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Just a few days ago, a learned acquaintance posted a status on FaceBook whose tone was supportive of the controversial blasphemy laws without paying any attention to the various incidents of murder, lynching, and vandalism that have taken place in the name of these laws.<br />
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The person is associated with the country’s topmost top public institution where elected representatives of the people regularly chant slogans in support of democracy and supremacy of the Constitution. The FaceBook status of my learned acquaintance read: “The desirable decision of blocking social media sites for spreading defamatory content, will ultimately cast positive impacts on family connections, which have been deteriorating for a long time”. In a nutshell, the person was supporting crackdown on dissent in the guise of blaming social media for injecting non-social behaviour in Pakistani society. This time, I couldn’t help but respond to the status by asking if the person supported silencing expression in online spaces? The reply was in affirmation.<br />
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In times like ours when a haunting wave of crackdown against political dissidents has already hushed up thousands, one must be ready to face the music for professing ‘liberal secular’ ideology — even if it is within legally prescribed limits of speech.<br />
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In Pakistan, (mis) use of blasphemy laws and intolerance towards those criticising these laws is an infamous norm. There is no disagreement that sanctity of all religions and their venerated personalities is a key to maintaining harmony among different faiths in a heterogeneous society, and hate speech and speech that may incite violence should be dealt with according to global standards.<br />
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Nevertheless, drawing the line between legitimate speech and hate speech is an arduous task that has been done quite extensively at some of the highest forums internationally. A case in point is the Rabat Plan of Action. This plan was approved by a UN intergovernmental body in 2013 after a series of consultative meetings of member states. Interestingly, the plan is based on the UN Human Rights Council’s resolution (16/18) that was co-sponsored by Pakistan. The resolution called for combatting intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatisation, discrimination, and incitement to violence against any person based on their religion or belief. The Rabat plan defines hate speech and draws its boundaries in a comprehensive manner. Even after five years, no effort has been made to implement the plan.<br />
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The question of prohibitions on blasphemous speech is very relevant in Pakistani context because of the long history of misuse of vaguely drafted laws — that are debatable and even repealable in many people’s opinion because of their disproportionality with global standards.<br />
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The issue of blasphemous speech has had a long history of being misused for settling of personal petty disputes in different parts of the world, either to protect beliefs of the majority or to target faith-based minorities, particularly non-believers. Seemingly – both scenarios would be applicable to Pakistan. Far from the standard of holding someone innocent until proven guilty, those accused of blasphemy in Pakistan are usually not even given a fair chance to prove their innocence as they become victims of mob justice or street violence. A glaring example is the killing of former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer.<br />
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The role of Pakistani courts is also questionable for not delivering justice in time. Unwarranted delays in due process of law have resulted in prolonged imprisonment of blasphemy accused like Junaid Hafeez, former lecturer at Multan’s Bahauddin Zakariya University. Hafeez has been detained at the Sahiwal jail since 2013.<br />
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These are some of the reasons why global standards including the Rabat plan call upon states to repeal blasphemy laws from their statutes.<br />
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Finally, a new and lethal trend has been witnessed in Pakistan with regards to use of blasphemy as a pretext to suppress progressive voices on social media. Beginning in October 2015 with the case of Saqlain Haider, convicted by an anti-terrorism court for 13 years, an increase has been noted in frequency of such instances. The brutal killing of Mashal Khan was among these instances. Other incidents like the bloggers’ abductions involved certain state institutions. To silence progressive voices, the issue of blasphemy was used to provoke the masses and to threaten progressive voices on social media. With the fear of being attacked ever present, this progressive minority seems to have sidelined itself somewhere at the periphery of the society.<br />
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The writer is a journalist and digital rights researcher. He works for Bytes for All, Pakistan. Follow: @advertbalcha</div>
Haroon Balochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05458994835813009410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319461158663863917.post-84390949085690575722016-07-29T21:10:00.000+05:002018-11-18T21:11:24.815+05:00How far is the state willing to go to police the internet in Pakistan?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://cdn-blogs.tribune.com.pk/2016/07/37898-cyber-1469790920-737-640x480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://cdn-blogs.tribune.com.pk/2016/07/37898-cyber-1469790920-737-640x480.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The “so called” reasonable restrictions imposed on freedom of expression in <br />Article 19, through section, will provide authority of interpretation to PTA, <br />which means the role of reviewing the law is being transferred from the Supreme <br />Court to the regulator. Once it becomes law, it becomes easy for PTA to direct <br />internet service providers to block or censor content from any website, blogs <br />or social media. PHOTO: COURTINGTHELAW.COM</td></tr>
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<br />July 29, 2016<br />
<br />
By Haroon Baoch<br />
<br />
It is unfortunate that every time activists engage the government in a discussion regarding the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill (PECB), with the aim of protecting civil liberties in cyberspace, the government in turn makes the law more complex and open to multiple interpretations.<br />
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In recent days, an extensive round of deliberation was carried out with the senate’s standing committee and sub-committee on information technology. This time, digital rights organisations somehow managed to push legislators through, with the help of a few sane voices, in the senate for removing and/or improving the sections contravening the essence of democracy vis-à-vis civil liberties.<br />
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Pakistan has ratified several global human rights standards including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which means it is binding for the state of Pakistan to promote and protect fundamental rights through effective law and policy making.<br />
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Working with the senate’s sub-committee on IT issues provided the civil society a ray of hope since this was the first time, in more than one and a half year of struggle, that legislators calmly listened and responded to the reservations of concerned stakeholders. But yet again the government failed to protect fundamental rights and did not manage to provide constitutional safeguards in the bill.<br />
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The right to freedom of expression, privacy, online campaigning, and peaceful protests are at serious stake under this bill.<br />
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The amendments proposed by the committee lack the protection of journalist sources and whistle-blowers since the concerned sections in the bill were not touched upon. The right to express oneself freely in cyberspace is still in jeopardy, yet the power of censoring, blocking and removing online content under Section 34 will remain with the regulatory body of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) without any constitutional or judicial oversight.<br />
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Section 34 of this bill will be legitimising online censorship and is against the true spirit of the law. PTA, a regulatory body that works directly under the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, is being given blanket authority to interpret the Article 19 of the Constitution of Pakistan.<br />
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The ‘so called’ reasonable restrictions imposed on freedom of expression under Article 19 will give the authority of interpretation to PTA, which means the role of reviewing the law is being transferred from the Supreme Court to the regulator. Once it becomes law, it becomes easy for PTA to direct internet service providers to block or censor content from any website, blog or social media. This will also limit the expression of publication houses and journalists operating online because PTA can also order them to remove specific content from their websites. Material that violates public health or obscene content, even content that is critical for religious integrity or against friendly relations of Pakistan with foreign countries—may be asked to be removed.<br />
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Last year in Mina, hundreds of pilgrims died in a stampede. Pakistani media houses were issued directives from Pakistan Electronic Media Authority (PEMRA) to stop criticising Saudi mismanagement. However, the criticism on social media and blogging websites did not stop. If PECB was in effect at that point in time, PTA would enjoy the liberty of blocking such content on the internet as well.<br />
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Sections related to the dignity of a natural person (defamation) remain the same—which leaves a lot of space to criminalise satire and criticism. However, the section related to child pornography is proposed to be treated separately and dealt with more strictly.<br />
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In addition to this, sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 criminalise unauthorised access to digital forms of information or critical infrastructure. Copying or editing information would also be tantamount to offence. These sections will directly or indirectly restrict the working of investigative journalists in Pakistan, who by means of their sources and/or whistle-blowers’ access, copy and use information of public interest. The government is willingly in denial of giving exception to journalists and whistle-blowers. This is being done to discourage the Edward Snowdens and Julian Assanges of Pakistan, who unveiled the dangerous games of the big-brothers.<br />
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Any caricaturing of politicians or leaders, who are public figures and are often under criticism for their wrongdoings, could potentially be criminalised under Section 18 of this proposed bill, which deals with defamation in online spaces. It may not be possible for the cartoonist, Feica, to disseminate his satirical caricatures via online means because they might be perceived as offensive.<br />
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Sections relating to real-time surveillance and retention of traffic data have not been changed, where the privacy of citizens is being threatened, especially if the draconian Protection of Pakistan Ordinance is revived. This will legitimise the state sneaking in on private communications of ordinary citizens, journalists, human rights defenders, and other sensitive and/or marginalised groups. The government and its institutions have already been carrying out digital surveillance, but this bill is meant to legitimise them.<br />
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Pakistan’s top intelligence agency in June 2015 confessed in the Supreme Court that it taps around 7,000 telephone calls of Pakistani citizens on monthly basis. Similarly, the presence of FinFisher, a spyware intrusion suite on Pakistan’s telecommunication infrastructure is another confirmation of mass surveillance of Pakistani citizens.<br />
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The proposed amendments still duplicate the sections of cyber-terrorism, a subject totally out of the domain of the cybercrimes bill. Rather, the inclusion of a very broad section on hate speech is further adding insult to the injury without giving the definition of hate speech itself and its qualifications. Specifically, when there is no particular mechanism available in the country to distinguish between legitimate expressions and hate speech.<br />
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Speaking from real-life examples, critical memeing of teachings or leaders of politico-religious groups, such as those who actively supported and campaigned for Salmaan Taseer’s assassin—would tantamount to hate speech. And the creator and people involved in disseminating such content online may face charges under this cyber-terrorism clause. We have already witnessed the cases of Rizwan Haider and Saqlain Haider who were recently booked for 13 years for accessing and/or disseminating so called ‘hate material’ on Facebook.<br />
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In a nutshell, the proposed amendments are once again a plethora of vague and loosely knit terminologies exhibiting the mala fide intentions of the state in policing the internet in Pakistan.<br />
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The author is a journalist and digital rights researcher. He tweets at @advertbalcha (twitter.com/advertbalcha)<br />
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Haroon Balochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05458994835813009410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319461158663863917.post-76851484028407106012015-08-30T21:46:00.000+05:002015-08-31T17:59:47.712+05:00Pakistani working women on average earn Rs. 8,000 only<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
By Haroon Baloch<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">R.I. Khan: Women hand-stitching quilt</td></tr>
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One would think that the number of women in the Pakistani workforce is growing as economic pressures mount and double income families become the norm. However, the actual figures are surprisingly low. As yet, only 15.76 percent of the women have been allowed to take part in the socio-economic uplift of the country even though women constitute more or less 50 percent of the total population.<br />
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Further, the women who are included in the workforce remain underpaid. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the average monthly working wage for women in Pakistan is slightly over 8,000 rupees as against the minimum wage notified by the government which stands at 13,000 rupees per month.<br />
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In the developed world, women are playing a crucial role in socio-economic development. Countries like Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Canada, France, Russia, Ireland, Portugal, Ukraine, Latvia, Moldova and Estonia are among those where women stand shoulder to shoulder with men in terms of working wages. But In Pakistan, we still have a long way to go.<br />
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The demographics (2013-14) available from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) also present an interesting picture of the distribution of the female workforce throughout the country. The majority of working women come from the Punjab which has a 12.92 percent share in total female workforce. WW-2-2This is followed by Sindh with a share of 2.07.percent Working women in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remain highly marginalized with 0.15 and 0.62 percent shares respectively.
<script id="infogram_0_working_women_wages" src="//e.infogr.am/js/embed.js?ObU" type="text/javascript"></script><br />
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<a href="https://infogr.am/working_women_wages" style="color: #acacac; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Working women wages</a> | <a href="https://infogr.am/" style="color: #acacac; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Create infographics</a></div>
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“Even though women are visible in the workspace in Pakistan, there is resentment against them in public spaces. Men, in fact, are the biggest barriers for women in the public sphere,” says Zoya Rehman, a gender activist from Bytes for All. She further emphasizes the need for the female workforce to grow because when an increasing number of Pakistani women make an impact and speak from a position of power, the more their voices will be valued.<br />
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Interestingly, while the Punjab may have the largest female workforce
as compared to all the other provinces, it pays the lowest average
monthly wages to working women, which equals to 7,105 rupees. Of the
12.92 percent, around 8.18 percent are drawing up to 5,000 rupees a
month on average. Only 1.31 percent are drawing more than 15,000
rupees a month.<br />
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Women’s participation in the country’s socio-economic uplift from
Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is below one percent collectively in
terms of their employment share. Most of these women fall in the slab of
those drawing more than 15,000 rupees a month. The pattern determines
that in these two provinces, it is only the relatively more educated and
affluent women who manage to come out of their homes to work<br />
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Similar to patterns in the Punjab, the maximum number of working
women in Sindh also belong to the lower and middle classes who are
drawing between 5,000 and 10,000 rupees a month on average.<br />
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It is interesting that in comparison to urban areas, women from the
rural areas of Pakistan are more active outside the home. The main
reason seems to be that they are more needy but some experts argue that
the rural communities are actually less conservative than urban areas.
However, this argument becomes invalid considering the number of human
rights violations and repressive acts against women seen in these
communities, such as honor killing, <i>wani</i>, <i>swara</i>, etc.<br />
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In rural areas, 18.35 percent women work outside their homes to earn
bread for families. However, their average monthly income is less than
6,000 rupees. In comparison, in urban areas, 12.60 percent women get the
opportunity to work but they draw up to 12,500 rupees a month on
average.<br />
<script id="infogram_0_percentage_share_of_rural_and_urban_women_in_employment" src="//e.infogr.am/js/embed.js?m6I" type="text/javascript"></script><br />
<div style="border-top: 1px solid #acacac; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<a href="https://infogr.am/percentage_share_of_rural_and_urban_women_in_employment" style="color: #acacac; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Percentage share of rural and urban women in employment</a> | <a href="https://infogr.am/" style="color: #acacac; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Create infographics</a></div>
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“Pakistanis need to realize that if more women work, the economy
will grow and families will become more financially sustainable and
prosperous,” says Zoya. We must get rid of false notions about religion
forbidding women to work outside the home. She argues that Islam grants
women more rights than Muslims realize. And women must exercise these
rights publicly and unapologetically.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Credits: Story was originally published at <a href="http://www.newslinemagazine.com/2015/08/women-at-work/" target="_blank">Newsline Magazine</a> </span></div>
Haroon Balochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05458994835813009410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319461158663863917.post-32368622193591004902014-06-12T05:44:00.003+05:002014-06-12T06:06:15.365+05:00Terror challenges in Pakistan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By Haroon Baloch</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXi5Mdff0RPmHxFAK8cRcSShj9_nd5I95dJDH9vReOB4wTRqMrN073i7SL8HI3smidGnfay1u8aTY4KWfMB8broxEYIXa6AieT9DFhfyiC-fjREcffr0EJDZ9u61flvx6gzr8rBfRcG2yW/s1600/10373108_10202947643870260_8420098939098105995_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXi5Mdff0RPmHxFAK8cRcSShj9_nd5I95dJDH9vReOB4wTRqMrN073i7SL8HI3smidGnfay1u8aTY4KWfMB8broxEYIXa6AieT9DFhfyiC-fjREcffr0EJDZ9u61flvx6gzr8rBfRcG2yW/s1600/10373108_10202947643870260_8420098939098105995_o.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Karachi's Jinnah International Airport, on 8th June (Sunday), came under terrorists' siege, scratching wounds of near past, which further deteriorated the debilitating image of the country.<br /><br />International media including US heavily debated the episode and highlighted various aspects of terrorism in Pakistan.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Delaware's most listened Radio WDEL 1150AM's anchor Allan Loudell discussed this issue with visiting journalist Haroon Baloch in Wilmington studio.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ciframe%20width=%22100%%22%20height=%22450%22%20scrolling=%22no%22%20frameborder=%22no%22%20src=%22https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/153959554&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false&amp;visual=true%22%3E%3C/iframe%3E" target="_blank">Listen here</a></span></span><br />
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Haroon Balochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05458994835813009410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319461158663863917.post-58941043148517134712013-09-03T20:34:00.001+05:002013-09-03T20:48:00.741+05:00Jinnah wished a tolerant Pakistan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />September 2, 2013</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>By Haroon Baloch</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CDLTjzMFQR61i1GUqAqhsG3Xr4ZtazoynTCvwuk9DJCv0SlU0Z29Z8LfaHb_Eelqw5WjGHpijh9NOqnUd4cluvp2xwIoxIT1knlQQT_Wxpv6fx_opQgiRDjrjAdRE7w56Mk8JbFVMabV/s1600/quaid-edited-pic_edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CDLTjzMFQR61i1GUqAqhsG3Xr4ZtazoynTCvwuk9DJCv0SlU0Z29Z8LfaHb_Eelqw5WjGHpijh9NOqnUd4cluvp2xwIoxIT1knlQQT_Wxpv6fx_opQgiRDjrjAdRE7w56Mk8JbFVMabV/s320/quaid-edited-pic_edited.jpg" width="281" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Referring to one of important speech-recordings of founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, which he delivered on Pakistan’s day of birth, 14th August 1947 in Karachi, he undoubtedly preached the nation for respecting all faiths and beliefs, and tolerance for each others’ religions.<br /><br /> Jinnah said, “The tolerance and goodwill great emperor Akbar showed to all the non-Muslims is not of recent origin. It dates back thirteen centuries ago when our Prophet (PBUH), not only by words and by deeds treated the Jews and Christians handsomely after he had conquered them.” He further said, “Prophet ensured to them the utmost tolerance, regard and respect for their faiths and beliefs.”<br /><br />These lines uttered by Quaid-e-Azam are extracted from recently disclosed speech-recording of All India Radio (AIR), which has been decided by Indian government to hand over to Pakistan after a formal request made by the former Director General Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation, Murtaza Solangi in March 2012.<br /><br />Murtaza Solangi being a veteran broadcaster has indubitably served for the nation’s greatest interest by taking bold initiative for the retrieval of missing links. Indian civil society in this regard has also played a commendable role for upholding the emblem of Right to Information, and Subhash Chandra Agrawal is one who fought for the retrieval of Jinnah’s speech-recordings.<br /> <br /> The nation has just commemorated its 66th birthday and today, the ideology of Pakistan as portrayed by Jinnah in his speech of 14th August is fuzzy. The reason is not difficult enough to understand. We direly need to consult with Jinnah’s teachings because he knew exactly that what he desired the Pakistani nation to become. The nation had been pushed in a spam debate of being a conservative or secular state, which had actually been a moment of choice whether to put the country on a path of development or attaining a status of radical Islamic state.<br /><br />Respecting each other’s views is not a matter of being secular, but it is the lucid wisdom of our religion Islam and what was also iterated by Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He discussed this issue in the Pakistan Constituent Assembly citing Prophet’s (PBUH) deeds.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUTHabzdwTTWhUro2AtR7T4D5nqQ5Z14hdomj1PSt3tkYBdFJpHDaINhZ1BaVaE5KIkHrxn6yTrqky4ivQC76f5oIclfZXFaW2hk6_obC2p-7QymmpD_xE-AMRvHdpRa94cr5eUzwa1pZ/s1600/02_edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUTHabzdwTTWhUro2AtR7T4D5nqQ5Z14hdomj1PSt3tkYBdFJpHDaINhZ1BaVaE5KIkHrxn6yTrqky4ivQC76f5oIclfZXFaW2hk6_obC2p-7QymmpD_xE-AMRvHdpRa94cr5eUzwa1pZ/s320/02_edited.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“The whole history of Muslims wherever they ruled is replete with those humane and great principles and which should be followed and practiced by us”, Jinnah said adding “It will be our concerted efforts to work for the welfare and well-being of all the communities in Pakistan.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />In today’s Pakistan, it dates back to our radical legacy that those minorities who were ensured by Muhammad Ali Jinnah about their freewill to worship according to their wishes, have been passing through an undesirable circumstances.<br /> <br /> Christian being the largest minority of the country has time and again been attacked in the name of disrespect of Islam, the religion which itself preaches for being tolerant.<br /> <br /> Hindu girls are kidnapped in today’s Pakistan, and by hook or by crook, are converted to Muslims. Thousands of Hindus from Pakistan have been migrated to India just because of the adverse circumstance. Even the supreme judiciary of the country, as per the civil society, could not decide on merit in Rinkle Kumari’s case of forced conversion because of the pressure of mafia involved in such heinous activities.<br /> <br /> In short, the percentage of minorities is shrinking in the country, which the radicals proudly voice as of triumph of their missionary efforts or “Tableegh”.<br /> <br /> What type of Islam are we following, has been a debate of 66 years of our country’s independence. But the truth is that as nation we have changed our lords contrary to deemed objective of liberalizing our wisdom. Before 1947, it used to be the Britain imperialists and now are the radicals who decide about our social reality. We could not evolve as nation of Jinnah’s vision, for which the piece of separate land was triumphed from Hindustan. The independence was meant for a heterogeneous society where minorities were desired to lead their lives in a way they wish.<br /> <br /> It is again the time for this generation to decide whether to become a Jinnah’s nation or let the things drive in a way they have been driving from the past 66 years.</span><br />
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Haroon Balochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05458994835813009410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319461158663863917.post-62588749142386166292013-09-03T20:11:00.001+05:002013-09-03T20:11:25.402+05:00Media responsibility versus ratings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><b>August 17, 2013</b></span><div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQmiYyap0cRjSphhYM46iRolXAuG_2PlivJyCT8TP5u5mNpgHJCIBqo8sGcOmZU6MXO4UhKD30NHzr4pfFeYOOIAWKC8MsOZ6O2M2Nbj7VV8gmd_4_7lLE-1pSpMPPbZZOEfGdSn5tazHY/s1600/Sikandar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQmiYyap0cRjSphhYM46iRolXAuG_2PlivJyCT8TP5u5mNpgHJCIBqo8sGcOmZU6MXO4UhKD30NHzr4pfFeYOOIAWKC8MsOZ6O2M2Nbj7VV8gmd_4_7lLE-1pSpMPPbZZOEfGdSn5tazHY/s320/Sikandar.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>By Haroon Baloch</b><br /><br />The Islamabad standoff on the eve of August 15th was not only a criminal confrontation but at the same time it also exposed Pakistan media when it comes to journalism of ethics in Pakistan. <br /> <br /> Life of electronic media, particularly news channels in Pakistan, spins around good rating a</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">nd in the pursuit of these ratings; I’ve seen anchors like Maya Khan chasing dates in public parks, fiercely harming the public morality. <br /> <br /> Stories of such TV shows are countless where anchors and/or reporters breach the redline of ethical journalism. <br /> <br /> While covering contemporary issues as a TV reporter, I experienced instances on routine basis where race of breaking the news leaves a journalist far behind and drags him or her to be a runner in any arena. <br /> <br /> Interestingly, the time of Islamabad standoff on 15th August marked the silver jubilee of the darkest day of the German press. Exact twenty-five years back on 16th August in the wee hour, two burglars Hans-Jürgen Rösner and Dieter Degowski robbed a bank in a Deutsche town Gladbeck and escaped with two bank tellers taking them under hostage. <br /> <br /> In the run later on, the hostage-takers also rode on a public transit bus and took 30 passengers more into their hostage. During the negotiation with the police in the whole drama, hostage-takers killed three hostages. The whole episode lasted for three days and on 18th August in the midnight, one of the police vehicles crashed into the getaway car resulting into gunfire, and finally the arrest of Rösner and Degowski’s arrest.<br /> <br /> Other than the timing of Islamabad standoff with Gladbeck episode, the focal commonality between the both crimes was the direct involvement of media because both the drams were broadcast live. <br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtqwzKmtZw1QLRezhTX1g_aIQNMva1mEL0hi3GVMZLY_nwGdX6rl2sDn4ZDuJc4QsC5BYJR-fWAOo0J71o2VkL37eMQurdYaLLNES8bp-20qKW-6PAFrB50JsvheHvbq4RI3f0xLFOVIf/s1600/Gladbeck2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtqwzKmtZw1QLRezhTX1g_aIQNMva1mEL0hi3GVMZLY_nwGdX6rl2sDn4ZDuJc4QsC5BYJR-fWAOo0J71o2VkL37eMQurdYaLLNES8bp-20qKW-6PAFrB50JsvheHvbq4RI3f0xLFOVIf/s320/Gladbeck2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
In Gladbeck episode, the media reporters interviewed the hostage-takers and the hostages live and took photographed burglars to their satisfaction in poses like placing guns under the throats of hostages. <br /> <br /> In an interview with German International broadcaster DW, media psychologist Jo Groebel said, “Journalists who covered Gladbeck crime story not only satisfied hostage-takers’ desire for recognition and attention, but also incited the criminals to prove themselves in their brutal megalomania.”<br /> <br /> In one instance, one of the reporters, later upgraded to Editor-in-Chief of most read German tabloid “Bild”, also managed to travel into getaway car so to direct the hostage-takers into the streets of Cologne. <br /> <br /> German press was ruthlessly carped on its ethical infringements, even the reporter who guided criminals in their affairs had to face the allegations of complicity. <br /> <br /> What Pakistani media did was not far different to that of German press except they could not guide Sikandar and his wife into their affairs of rusting the capital on the eve of 15th August. However, considering the supposition of many defense analysts commentating during the prime time on all national televisions post-standoff if Sikandar had been getting guidance on his cell phone throughout the episode by his terrorist aides, then media’s role could have become more supportive to the outfit in the drama. <br /> <br /> Nevertheless, Pakistani media did the same in satisfying the desires of Sikandar and obsessed him with heroic emotions.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJbrX6SEh3Pb-2LlPcPMajE2EqoqR3d1I9tpSlBNH6jtkzJMA9m2fr-NUB8_yhNtWezOHeO5gutO1xAaWL9EL4Qogs-qjNsklFIeUmD8u7VbfoxjkJWllCQH0Q2eytj70qSy-xzaUkPkx/s1600/Sikandar+ExpressTV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJbrX6SEh3Pb-2LlPcPMajE2EqoqR3d1I9tpSlBNH6jtkzJMA9m2fr-NUB8_yhNtWezOHeO5gutO1xAaWL9EL4Qogs-qjNsklFIeUmD8u7VbfoxjkJWllCQH0Q2eytj70qSy-xzaUkPkx/s400/Sikandar+ExpressTV.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> At the same time, self-attained role of Pakistani media as a arbitrator with Islamabad gunman during his live telephonic interviews was one of the major ethical infringements that could have been avoided through anticipatory vision of PEMRA during the five and half hours long drama.<br /> <br /> Media interference also affected the police operation and in the case of Islamabad standoff similar to that of Gladbeck robbery, as authorities have seriously questioned it and bluntly declared media responsible for delaying the operation against the gunman because proximity maintained by the journalists with Sikandar refrained police to engage Sikandar in any exchange of bullets.<br /> <br /> Following severe criticism for their handling of Gladbeck drama by German media, German Press Council, “Der Deutschen Presserats” barred for conducting any interview with hostage-takers during the hostage situation in future. <br /> <br /> Can Pakistan do the same? Will it accept the responsibility of mishandling the Islamabad standoff? And what will be Pakistani media’s role during the coverage of such hostage related incidents in future or confrontation between terrorists and law enforcers are the important questions in developing Pakistani democracy.</span></div>
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Because at the end, it contributes to the name of a nation, and what Pakistan has earned after 16th August episode was a bad image. <br /> <br /> Self responsible media is need of the hour after winning the battle against draconian press laws for the attainment of freedom of speech. <br /> <br /> Commenting on the coverage of Pakistani media, leading journalist Syed Talat Hussain said, “the role was uncalled for, totally unprofessional in the sense that it created hype, inviting more and people to the venue and created sort of a fiction around it.”<br /> <br /> However, he said, media cannot wholly be blamed of what happened on August 15th. He questioned why administration failed in cordoning off crime scene if it is capable enough for maintaining foolproof security inside the red zone. <br /> <br /> “We ought to know every visual we show from the scene has consequences”, he said further stressing that journalists should do everything with reference to the fundamental principle of consequences. </span></div>
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Haroon Balochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05458994835813009410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319461158663863917.post-8925068545992398042013-08-24T12:23:00.002+05:002013-08-24T12:23:56.581+05:00Sino-Pakistan trade corridor: A regional ‘game changer’<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><b>By: Haroon Baloch</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHlYYkttgTudspKotrfnzjGBz2ahTxS3GE2pJzhQV4fiF-hktnpyxxT-jPl4zKKq9CrrBIDx3Q1Mk2seta6IdT_sgDPrLS-gS18nAq-gqFGSR8JIJeO4UXZs9LKRBhyphenhyphena2vs7pBZVy9Hy-/s1600/Nawaz_NeelumJehlum2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHlYYkttgTudspKotrfnzjGBz2ahTxS3GE2pJzhQV4fiF-hktnpyxxT-jPl4zKKq9CrrBIDx3Q1Mk2seta6IdT_sgDPrLS-gS18nAq-gqFGSR8JIJeO4UXZs9LKRBhyphenhyphena2vs7pBZVy9Hy-/s320/Nawaz_NeelumJehlum2.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Chairman Pakistan-China Institute, also an
active legislator in upper house of Pakistani Parliament, Senator Mushahid
Hussain Syed stressed Pakistani leadership to join international community’s
bandwagon, especially the deeds of China if development is its desired outcome.
<br />
<br />
Economic cooperation between China and Pakistan, the two time-tested friend
countries, do not reflect the true nature Sino-Pakistan ties. Bilateral trade
between the both nuclear powers is not more than 13 billion USD with Pakistan’s
exports to China slightly over 3 billion UDS. The volume of its imports abuts
10 billion USD, which shows a clear trade imbalance.<br />
<br />
Both the countries have extensively cooperated in the defense sector. JF-17
Thunder fighter jets and modern tank technology like Al-Khalid are results of
this cooperation. Pakistan is also a client of Chinese missiles, flight system,
radars and satellite. <br />
<br />
Former Air Chief Marshal, Pakistan Air Force Rao Qamar Suleman, in an interview
in 2011 during his tenure (2009-2012) said Pakistan seeks stronger defense
cooperation with its friend and neighbor China to help upgrade the defense
systems.<br />
<br />
Similarly, China is playing a vital role in developing infrastructure in
Pakistan. It constructed Karakorum Highway, the only road link that connects
Pakistan with China. China has also provided technical and material assistance
for the execution of Chashma Nuclear Power Plant. In up-gradation, <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kE1bS8LoqzvCAjkQ2uIM-sueo2oG7qPSxpc1qGqkfoFI69rjRpcQGiWc2X-PE4fCsf_gkGbRhuGIpAdUDsY3k3P2r-TYZRRe9g2uO1PAmb5JusH-HGF5iMv_v8INv1-rOnrpVzuydxdE/s1600/NeelumJehlumTBM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kE1bS8LoqzvCAjkQ2uIM-sueo2oG7qPSxpc1qGqkfoFI69rjRpcQGiWc2X-PE4fCsf_gkGbRhuGIpAdUDsY3k3P2r-TYZRRe9g2uO1PAmb5JusH-HGF5iMv_v8INv1-rOnrpVzuydxdE/s320/NeelumJehlumTBM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Pakistan has
established four nuclear power plants, which are generating around 800
Megawatts electricity contributing to its economy. Viewing Pakistan’s
increasing energy needs, especially in a time when country is fighting the
global war against terrorism and its economy has suffered a loss of 90 billion
USD, China has committed to build energy infrastructure.<br />
<br />
Newly elected government of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz, Prime Minister
Muhammad Nawaz Sharif after assuming charge of his office in June 2013 decided
to pay his first state visit to China, reciprocating his Chinese counterpart Li
Keqiang’s first visit to Pakistan in May 2013. During Nawaz’s visit to Beijing,
leadership of both the countries have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to
establish Sino-Pak Economic Corridor to foster trade and investment bonds and
opening new chapter of economic activity in the region.<br />
<br />
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif termed this development a ‘game changer’ and
apprised that Kashgar, a southern Chinese city will be connected to Pakistan’s
port city Gwadar through road and rail routes. Further explaining the scheme,
Pakistan’s Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal told journalists that
China will establish industrial zones in Pakistan and its products will be
supplied through Sino-Pak Economic Corridor to rest of the would including
South and East Asia, Middle East, Central Asia and Europe.<br />
<br />
Earlier, this year when Pakistan handed over the Management of Gwadar port <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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to
Chinese authorities, Pakistan’s eastern neighbor India expressed its grave
concerns over the development. Indian Defense Minister A. K. Anthony asserted, “it
is a matter of concern to us.” <br />
<br />
India believes the port close to the Hormuz Strait opens up an energy and trade
corridor from the Gulf across Pakistan to Western China. China can also
establish its naval base in the town despite China’s stance that Gwadar is a
commercial project and part of Sino-Pak long-standing bilateral cooperation. <br />
<br />
Pakistan’s Foreign Office official had reciprocated as saying India must have
nothing to do with whoever it decides to work on Gwadar.<br />
<br />
Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses, India states in its research paper,
“Expansion of the Karakorum Corridor” suggests a regional bloc which involves
South Asian countries, but works against the unity of South Asia, will be
counter-productive, as it will become a tool to protect the interests of Middle
East and China in South Asia. It stresses Pakistan not to weaken South Asian
Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) rather it should help make SAARC a
functional bloc and promote economic integration of member states, which in
turn will help resolve the outstanding issues between member states including bone
of contention Kashmir between India and Pakistan.<br />
<br />
Commenting on the developments took place in the recent visit of Nawaz Sharif
to Beijing, Senator Mushahid Husssain point outs certain factors that impinge
on this convergence of interest between China and Pakistan. China’s warmth with
Pakistan has coincided with a ‘war of words’ with India. A prominent Chinese
military leader even publicly rebuked India for trying to stir up trouble and
provoke new problems on the eve of Indian Defense Minister’s arrival in
Beijing. Obviously, India’s increasing coziness to Japan, which Dr. Manmohan
Singh visited a week after receiving Li Keqiang, and Vietnam irks Beijing.<br />
<br />
Mushahid stressed that China has some reservations which Pakistan needs to
remove for rapid growth of Sino-Pak economic interaction. Objecting the role
‘slow and sluggish’ role of Pakistani bureaucracy, he argued culture of
red-tape needs to be abolished as China has numerously complained about it.
There are examples when projects have been suffered in the hands of this
bureaucratic attitude e.g. 425 Megawatts Nandipur Power Project, Thar Coal
project, etc. <br />
<br />
Nandipur power project was initiated by Chinese in 2008 with the cost of 329 million
USD, but due to callous attitude of Ministry of Law as it did not provide
clearance for sovereign guarantees till 2010, China withdrew from the project
as the cost went beyond 730 million USD. There are other examples as well where
Pakistani bureaucracy hurt the Chinese feelings. <br />
<br />
Another issue is the protection of over 15,000 Chinese engineers and personnel
engaged in development of Pakistan’s infrastructure. It has been witnessed intermittently
when Chinese got killed or kidnapped in Pakistan by the terrorists and authorities
failed to provide security to them. <br />
<br />
Mushahid advocated the idea of formation of a ‘Special Industrial Security
Force’ dedicated to guard Sino-Pak economic corridor, ensuring security to
Chinese workforce and its projects in Pakistan.<br />
<br />
The newly installed government in Islamabad is committed to successfully
execute the strategically important ‘game changer’ project as it believes China
is the only partner in the world which can get the country out of the contemporary
crises including energy shortage and revival of its economy. In the long run, Islamabad
is following the policy of countering the power imbalance resultant of increasing
western cooperation with India including United States’ Civil Nuclear deal by
strengthening Sino-Pak partnership. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Haroon Balochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05458994835813009410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319461158663863917.post-43726533433053139312013-04-29T07:40:00.001+05:002013-04-29T07:40:46.422+05:00 Imran makes 6 promises to nation to build a new Pakistan <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>March 23, 2013</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=319461158663863917" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="http://www.radio.gov.pk/phpThumb/phpThumb.php?src=../UploadedFiles/40738_rally.jpg&w=600" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.radio.gov.pk/phpThumb/phpThumb.php?src=../UploadedFiles/40738_rally.jpg&w=600" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>By Haroon Baloch <br /> </b><br />Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chief Imran Khan has made 6 promises with the nation to build a new Pakistan. <br /><br />Addressing a public gathering in Lahore on Saturday evening‚ Imran Khan said he will always speak truth with nation and will stand with oppressed class. <br /><br />Imran Khan said he will have no property or assets outside Pakistan and will live and die in the country. <br /><br />He pledged that he will never benefit from power and will not allow any of his relatives to benefit from his being in power. He will not make factories after coming in to power. <br /><br />He will protect money of public taxes and will not allow anyone to evade tax or spend it on luxuries. He said he will build play grounds and turn Governor House building into a library. <br /><br />Imran Khan said he will also stand against the brutalities on overseas Pakistanis. He pledged that promises made in the manifesto would be fulfilled. In his address‚ Shah Mahmood Qureshi said if voted to power‚ his party will end traditional politics and build a new Pakistan. <br /><br />He said in 1940 people supported for Pakistan and today people demanded to build a new Pakistan. <br /><br />Shah Mahmood Qureshi said PTI has become a force to bring to an end the traditional politics of turns. <br /><br />He said the country is passing through a critical time with high poverty and inflation rates and dilapidated economy. Only PTI can change the circumstances in Imran Khan's leadership. <br /><br /> He said PTI elected their representatives through intra-party elections and today 80‚000 elected representatives including 23‚000 females are in front of the public. <br /><br />He said that he was criticized when he decided to join Imran Khan at a time when he had offers from PML-N and PPP. Now his decision has proven correct. He asked public to vote for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf if they want change in the country.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.radio.gov.pk/newsdetail-40738" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Story originally published at Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation</span> </span></span></a></div>
Haroon Balochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05458994835813009410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319461158663863917.post-69624683113245193362013-04-29T06:53:00.000+05:002013-04-29T06:53:03.706+05:00 Jashan e Baharan Festival kicks off at Lok Virsa Islamabad <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Fe<span style="font-size: small;">bruary 2<span style="font-size: small;">4</span>,<span style="font-size: small;"> 2013</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>By: Haroon Baloch</b> </span></span> </span></span><br />
<a href="http://radio.gov.pk/phpThumb/phpThumb.php?src=../UploadedFiles/38969_sprin.jpg&w=400" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://radio.gov.pk/phpThumb/phpThumb.php?src=../UploadedFiles/38969_sprin.jpg&w=400" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The 3-day colourful Jashn-e-Baharan Festival reflecting the culture and music </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">of the country begin in Lok Virsa Islamabad today <br /><br />Minister for National Heritage and Integration Samina Khalid Ghurki who inaugurated the festival said that the colorful festival is a warm welcome to the spring season in a traditional way.<br /> <br />She said this will be a source of entertainment and relief for the citizens from their daily hectic routine. Minister said such type of healthy activities transmit positive image of the country across the world. <br /><br />In the festival‚ artisans of all cultures of the country have displayed their local products so to promote their handicrafts. <br /><br />Executive Director of Lok Virsa Khalid Javed told our correspondent Haroon Baloch that to celebrate spring was a centuries' old tradition including Pakistan. He said extremism has never been our culture; rather our society was famous for religious harmony‚ tolerance and dialogue.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://radio.gov.pk/newsdetail-38969" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Story originally published at Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation</span> </span></span></span></a></span></span></div>
Haroon Balochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05458994835813009410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319461158663863917.post-62466273778955715382013-04-29T06:42:00.000+05:002013-04-29T06:42:47.385+05:00 Parliamentary Committee sets 5-point criteria for appointment of caretaker PM <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">March 20, 2013</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">By: Haroon Baloch & Saeed Ahmed</span></b><br />
<a href="http://www.radio.gov.pk/phpThumb/phpThumb.php?src=../UploadedFiles/40518_khurshid.JPG&w=600" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://www.radio.gov.pk/phpThumb/phpThumb.php?src=../UploadedFiles/40518_khurshid.JPG&w=600" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />The first meeting of the parliamentary committee for nomination of caretaker prime minister was held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Ghulam Ahmed Bilour. <br /><br />Later‚ talking to media PPP leader and a member of the committee Syed Khursheed Shah said the committee has decided to nominate caretaker prime minister with two-third majority. He said the quorum of the committee will be 5 members. He said the chairmanship of the committee will be rotated. <br /><br />Syed Khursheed Shah said the committee discussed various aspects of two nominees for the office including Mir Hazar Khan Khoso and Rasool Bukhsh Plejo today (Wednesday). <br /><br />Chairman of the committee for today Ghulam Ahmad Bilour said the committee will only discuss 4 names forwarded by the prime minister and leader of the opposition. He said next meeting of the committee will be held at 11.00 a.m. tomorrow (Thursday). <br /><br />A member of the committee from opposition Mehtab Ahmad Khan Abbasi told media the committee has set criteria to consider names for the nominees for the caretaker prime minister. He said it has been decided that he should have some fundamental characteristics including impartiality‚ integrity‚ administrative experience and having no affiliation with any political party besides enjoying good reputation. <br /><br />Asked why the leader of the opposition has not included members from other parties in the Committee‚ Sardar Mehtab said opposition parties were consulted earlier and it is not mandatory for the opposition leader to nominate members from other parties as well. <br /><br />Farooq Naek said the committee is considering only those names proposed by the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition and it does not have power to propose any other name. <br /><br />He said the committee is trying its level best to evolve consensus on any of the two names for appointment as caretaker Prime Minister.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.radio.gov.pk/newsdetail-40518" target="_blank">Story originally published at Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation </a></span></span></div>
Haroon Balochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05458994835813009410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319461158663863917.post-19640778295554713182013-04-29T06:36:00.002+05:002013-04-29T06:36:40.928+05:00 Seminar seeks state attention to local languages <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">February 26, 2013</span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></b><br />
<a href="http://www.radio.gov.pk/phpThumb/phpThumb.php?src=../UploadedFiles/39098_Mother.jpg&w=600" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://www.radio.gov.pk/phpThumb/phpThumb.php?src=../UploadedFiles/39098_Mother.jpg&w=600" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>By: Haroon Baloch</b><br /><br />National University of Modern Languages Islamabad organized a seminar Tuesday for the promotion of regional languages of Northern Areas of the country.<br /><br />Talking to our correspondent Haroon Baloch‚ the famous poet and writer Iftikhar Arif lamented that regional languages have been neglected ever since Pakistan was created. <br /><br />He said local languages serve as base for the survival of cultures and stability of the country.<br /><br />Literary personalities of Shina‚ Balti‚ Hindko‚ Kashmiri and Pashto languages presented their papers on the occasion. <br /><br />Talking about the importance of Shina language in his paper‚ Aziz Ali Dad said Radio Pakistan has played a vital role for the promotion of Gilgit-Baltistan languages. <br /><br />He said it's a dilemma that regional languages have not been given their due importance‚ hence they have been fading away. He stressed the need to preserve the endangered local languages by developing their scripts. <br /><br />Poetry‚ music and cultures of these regional languages were also presented at the Seminar. <br /><br />Rector NUML Major General (R) Masood Hassan said the varsity has been playing a significant role for the promotion of all regional languages including Balti‚ Shina‚ Kashmiri and Pashto. He said seminars like this are spreading the message of love and peace.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<a href="http://www.radio.gov.pk/newsdetail-39098" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Story originally published at Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation</span> </span></span></a></span></div>
Haroon Balochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05458994835813009410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319461158663863917.post-18372588628566066072013-04-29T06:25:00.004+05:002013-04-29T06:25:54.926+05:00 Mashal Trust a symbol of commitment in development of education sector <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>January 11, 2013</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>By: Haroon Baloch</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.radio.gov.pk/phpThumb/phpThumb.php?src=../UploadedFiles/35977_bachy.jpeg&w=400" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.radio.gov.pk/phpThumb/phpThumb.php?src=../UploadedFiles/35977_bachy.jpeg&w=400" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Individual contribution for the development of country's education
sector at the grass root level is equally important as government is
committed for its betterment.<br /><br />Zeba Hussain has become a symbol of commitment for rest of the country when it comes to the development of education sector. <br /><br />She
has successfully been running a high school for the last four years in
Bari Imam‚ a slum area of federal capital‚ which is exclusively
dedicated for internally displaced children from various parts of the
country.<br /><br />"I have a strong feeling for these children whose parents are unable to send them to schools for whatever reasons. Their
parents are even unable to provide them with enough food"‚ told
Director Mashal Trust‚ Zeba Hussain adding that I have also been
training them with vocational skills so to better fulfill their future
needs.<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><a href="http://www.radio.gov.pk/newsdetail-35977" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">C<span style="font-size: small;">lick Here for Vide<span style="font-size: small;">o</span></span></span></a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><br />She has been running this trust with the help of her personal friends. <br /><br />"Some
of my friends from abroad are helping Mashal Trust in meeting its
annual expenses‚ but all donors are individual private donors"‚ said
Zeba Hussain.<br /><br />She herself has been taking care of school
teachers' training who are rendering their services for these poor
children. All of them belong to the local community of Bari Imam.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Story originally published at Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation</span> </span></span></div>
Haroon Balochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05458994835813009410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319461158663863917.post-22452493781276855752012-10-19T18:31:00.000+05:002012-10-19T18:51:46.198+05:00Baig & Durrani involved in 90 conspiracy: SC<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By: Haroon Baloch</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGQEB0P1mzovCQA9v8PKJnUn8ue22Gt29_0lwvKRwOQjmnR9MKeI8VMq7ZgJjcFbgGNlSO1DwTlJ7C9Yw4AZkCB0nsGiC8Msps20Q1frMk3IfQhsJCJqTjRPM7D0CWIC-E2ldot_Hv1K4/s1600/Supreme-Court-of-Pakistan4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGQEB0P1mzovCQA9v8PKJnUn8ue22Gt29_0lwvKRwOQjmnR9MKeI8VMq7ZgJjcFbgGNlSO1DwTlJ7C9Yw4AZkCB0nsGiC8Msps20Q1frMk3IfQhsJCJqTjRPM7D0CWIC-E2ldot_Hv1K4/s320/Supreme-Court-of-Pakistan4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">File photo from Social Media</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ISLAMABAD: The apex court has ordered to instigate civil proceedings as per law against the ex-military generals Aslam Baig and ex-DG ISI Asad Durrani for their involvement in distribution of money among politicians during 1990 general elections. Supreme Court also ordered to abolish election cells, if any, in intelligence agencies. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Supreme Court issued its short verdict on IJI case, for which retired Air Martial Asghar Khan submitted the petition in 1996. Supreme Court has ordered the Federal Government to recover distributed money among politicians with interest and to initiate civil cases against culprits who violated the constitution. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"The elections of 1990 were rigged to influence the political process and called for investigation by the FIA against those politicians who accepted the public money before the 1990 elections", the apex court said in its October 19th verdict.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An amount of eighty million rupees was deposited in the account of Survey and Construction group Karachi maintained by the MI shall also be transferred to the Habib Bank with profit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The apex court said that secret agencies have no role in election process. The military cannot take part in politics and cannot destabilize the democratic government.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The judgment also stated that any political cell operating in presidency or ISI should be closed down.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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================================================================</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Following is the text of short verdict issued by the Supreme Court of Pakistan on October 19, 2012.</span></div>
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<b>IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PAKISTAN</b></div>
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<b>(Original Jurisdiction)</b></div>
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<b>PRESENT</b></div>
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<ul>
<li>Mr. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, CJ </li>
<li>Mr. Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja</li>
<li>Mr. Justice Khilji Arif Hussain </li>
</ul>
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<b><u>HUMAN RIGHTS CASE NO.19 OF 1996</u></b></div>
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[Application by Air Marshal (Retd.) Muhammad Asghar Khan] Air Marshal (Retd.) Muhammad Asghar Khan … PETITIONER<br />
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<b><u>VERSUS</u></b></div>
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General (Retd.) Mirza Aslam Baig, former Chief of Army Staff & others…<span style="text-align: center;">RESPONDENTS </span><br />
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For the petitioner: Mr. Salman Akram Raja, ASC</div>
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Assisted by Malik Ghulam Sabir, Adv.</div>
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a/w Air Marshal (R) M. Asghar Khan</div>
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For the Federation/: Mr. Irfan Qadir Attorney General for Pakistan</div>
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M/o Defence Mr. Dil Mohammad Khan Alizai, DAG</div>
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Raja Abdul Ghafoor, AOR Assisted by:</div>
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Barrister Shehryar Riaz Sheikh, Adv.</div>
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Commander Hussain Shahbaz, Director (L)</div>
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Wing Comd. M. Irfan, Deputy Director</div>
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For Respondent No. 1: Mr. Muhammad Akram Sheikh, Sr. ASC</div>
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Assisted by Ch. Hassan Murtaza Mann, Adv.</div>
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a/w Gen. Retd. Mirza Aslam Baig</div>
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Respondent No. 2: Lt. Gen. Retd. Asad Durrani, Ex-DG, ISI</div>
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In Person</div>
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For Respondent No. 3: Mr. Muhammad Munir Piracha, Sr. ASC</div>
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For the Applicant(s): Sh. Khizar Hayat, Sr. ASC </div>
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(CMA No. 918/2007)</div>
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Mr. Roedad Khan in person </div>
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(CMA No. 3196/2012)</div>
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Raja Abdul Ghafoor, AOR</div>
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(in CMA 3410/12)HRC 19/1996 2</div>
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On Court’s notice:</div>
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For President Secretariat: Malik Asif Hayat, Secretary to the President</div>
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Mr. Arshad Ali Chaudhry, Director Legal</div>
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For SBP: Raja Abdul Ghafoor, AOR</div>
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For NAB: Mr. Mazhar Ali Chaudhry, DPG</div>
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Brig. (R) Hamid Saeed, in person</div>
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For HBL: Nemo</div>
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Date of Hearing: 19.10.2012. </div>
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…</div>
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<b><u>O R D E R</u></b></div>
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<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdI4LSZirMlUNo12yGaVH0gLSn-SY6cWhTuhdKNGDuOWrA6-CBdIxIwKk9KoeChvjHn-95q742zfpR-OOswrBxSfRxab_3j1ptUcZhn3V5kL8EFyYBlWgTpj4T-PQEi0HfKvTfus-qsFR/s1600/CJ.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdI4LSZirMlUNo12yGaVH0gLSn-SY6cWhTuhdKNGDuOWrA6-CBdIxIwKk9KoeChvjHn-95q742zfpR-OOswrBxSfRxab_3j1ptUcZhn3V5kL8EFyYBlWgTpj4T-PQEi0HfKvTfus-qsFR/s320/CJ.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">CJ Iftikhar M. Chaudhry - File photo from Social Media</td></tr>
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<b>IFTIKHAR MUHAMMAD CHAUDHRY, CJ</b>.– The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan commands that it is the will of the people of Pakistan to establish an order wherein the State shall exercise its powers and authority through the chosen representatives of the people, wherein the principles of democracy, freedom, equality, etc., shall be fully observed, so that the people of Pakistan may prosper and attain their rightful and honoured place amongst the nations of the world, and make their full contribution towards international peace and progress and happiness of humanity. People of Pakistan had been struggling to establish a parliamentary and democratic order since long within the framework of the Constitution and now they foresee a strong system which is established by the passage of time without any threat and which is subject to the constitution and rule of law.<br />
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2. The essence of this Human Rights case is based on the fundamental right of citizens enshrined in Article 17 of the Constitution. It raises an important question of public importance to enforce the fundamental rights, inter alia, noted hereinabove, HRC 19/1996 3 therefore, in accordance with the provisions of Article 184(3) of the Constitution, jurisdiction has been assumed and exercised to declare,for the reasons to be recorded later, as under:-<br />
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(1) That citizens of Pakistan as a matter of right are free to elect their representatives in an election process being conducted honestly, justly, fairly and in accordance with law.<br />
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(2) The general election held in the year 1990 was subjected to corruption and corrupt practices as in view of the overwhelming material produced by the parties during hearing it has been established that an “Election Cell” had been created in the Presidency, which was functioning to provide financial assistance to the favoured candidates, or a group of political parties to achieve desired result by polluting election process and to deprive the people of Pakistan from being represented by their chosen representatives.<br />
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(3) A President of Pakistan, in Parliamentary system of government, being head of the State represents the unity of the Republic under Article 41 of the Constitution. And as per the oath of his office in all circumstances, he will do right to all manner of people, according to law, without fear or favour, affection or illwill. Thus, holder of office of President of Pakistan, violates the Constitution, if he fails to treat all manner of people equally and without favouring any set, according to law, and as such, creates/provides an occasion which may lead to an action against him under the Constitution and the Law.<br />
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(4) The President of Pakistan, Chief of Army Staff, DG ISI or their subordinates certainly are not supposed to create an Election Cell or to support a political party/ HRC 19/1996 4 group of political parties, because if they do so, the citizens would fail to elect their representatives in an honest, fair and free process of election, and their actions would negate the constitutional mandate on the subject.<br />
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(5) However, in the instant case it has been established that in the general elections of 1990 an Election Cell<br />
was established in the Presidency to influence the elections and was aided by General (R) Mirza Aslam Baig who was the Chief of Army Staff and by General (R) Asad Durrani, the then Director General ISI and they participated in the unlawful activities of the Election Cell in violation of the responsibilities of the Army and ISI as institutions which is an act of individuals but not of institutions represented by them respectively, noted hereinabove.<br />
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(6) ISI or MI may perform their duties as per the laws to safeguard the borders of Pakistan or to provide civil aid to the Federal Government, but such organizations have no role to play in the political activities/politics, for formulation or destabilization of political Governments, nor can they facilitate or show favour to a political party or group of political parties or politicians individually, in any manner, which may lead in his or their success. <br />
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(7) It has also been established that late Ghulam Ishaq Khan, the then President of Pakistan with the support of General (R) Aslam Baig, General (R) Asad Durrani and others, who were serving in M.I and now either have passed away or have retired, were supporting the functioning of the ‘Election Cell’, established illegally.<br />
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(8) Mr. M. Younas A. Habib, the then Chief Executive of Habib Bank Ltd. at the direction and behest of above noted functionaries, arranged/provided Rs.140 million belonging to public exchequer, out of which an amount HRC 19/1996 5 of Rs.60 million was distributed to politicians, whose incomplete details have been furnished by General (R) Asad Durrani, however, without a thorough probe no adverse order can be passed against them in these proceedings.<br />
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(9) The Armed Forces of Pakistan, under the directions of Federal Government, defend Pakistan against external aggression or threat of war and, subject to law, are to act in aid of civil power when called upon to do so under Article 245 of the Constitution, thus, any extraconstitutional act, calls for action in accordance with the Constitution of Pakistan and the law against the officers/officials of Armed Forces without any discrimination.<br />
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(10) The Armed Forces have always sacrificed their lives for the country to defend any external or internal aggression for which it being an institution is deeply respected by the nation.<br />
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(11) The Armed Forces, in discharge of their functions, seek intelligence and support from ISI, MI, etc., and on account of security threats to the country on its frontiers or to control internal situations in aid of civil power when called upon to do so. However, ISI, MI or any other Agency like IB have no role to play in the political affairs of the country such as formation or destabilization of government, or interfere in the holding of honest, free and fair elections by Election Commission of Pakistan. Involvement of the officers/members of secret agencies i.e. ISI, MI, IB, etc.in unlawful activities, individually or collectively calls for strict action being, violative of oath of their offices, and if involved, they are liable to be dealt with under the Constitution and the Law. HRC 19/1996 6<br />
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(12) Any Election Cell/Political Cell in Presidency or ISI or MI or within their formations shall be abolished immediately and any letter/notification to the extent of creating any such Cell/Department (by any name whatsoever, explained herein, shall stand cancelled forthwith.<br />
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(13) Late Ghulam Ishaq Khan, the then President of Pakistan, General (R) Aslam Baig and General (R) Asad Durrani acted in violation of the Constitution by facilitating a group of politicians and political parties, etc., to ensure their success against the rival candidates in the general election of 1990, for which they secured funds from Mr. Younas Habib. Their acts have brought a bad name to Pakistan and its Armed Forces as well as secret agencies in the eyes of the nation, therefore, notwithstanding that they may have retired from service, the Federal Government shall take necessary steps under the Constitution and Law against them.<br />
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(14) Similarly, legal proceedings shall be initiated against the politicians, who allegedly have received donations to spend on election campaigns in the general election of 1990, therefore, transparent investigation on the criminal side shall be initiated by the FIA against all of them and if sufficient evidence is collected, they shall be sent up to face the trial, according to law. Mr. Younas Habib shall also be dealt with in the same manner.<br />
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(15) Proceedings shall also be launched against the persons specified hereinabove for affecting the recovery of sums received by them with profit thereon by initiating civil proceedings, according to law.<br />
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(16) An amount of Rs.80 million, statedly, has been deposited in Account No. 313 titled Survey and Construction Group Karachi, maintained by MI, HRC 19/1996 7 therefore, this amount with profit shall be transferred to Habib Bank Ltd. if the liability of HBL has not been adjusted so far, otherwise, the same may be deposited in the treasury account of Government of Pakistan.<br />
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Haroon Balochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05458994835813009410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319461158663863917.post-38190379087284806832012-08-30T22:52:00.001+05:002012-08-30T22:52:46.384+05:00FC, intelligence agencies responsible for enforced disappearances: HRCP <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>By: Haroon Baloch</b></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1an-ebJZNteHk6R18YtYtissL6CvfaPjQdFBgAq7nWu1THBVgFr3zHl-KkCkTzWuJMW67VEcA1hRO5lGacHHLwHvYFJfoReOu9iFVchGCdJordy8DaE75bww5yHjiXqjg3Q4yroLWGkdx/s1600/Blochistan+report+HRCP+2012.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1an-ebJZNteHk6R18YtYtissL6CvfaPjQdFBgAq7nWu1THBVgFr3zHl-KkCkTzWuJMW67VEcA1hRO5lGacHHLwHvYFJfoReOu9iFVchGCdJordy8DaE75bww5yHjiXqjg3Q4yroLWGkdx/s320/Blochistan+report+HRCP+2012.png" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Title of published fact-finding mission's reporter 2012 - </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By Haroon Baloch</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
fact-finding team of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has a stance in its
report on Balochistan issue that Frontier Corps (FC) and intelligence agencies
are behind enforced disappearances in the province and circumstances have
worsened following failures in punishments or probes in a consequential manner.
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">HRCP has
issued the report in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Islamabad</st1:place></st1:city>
on August 30th, formulated on the facts the coordinators of HRCP Core Group
reported from 21 districts of Balochistan. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A 14-member
fact-finding mission comprising of Chairperson HRCP Zohra Yusuf, provincial
vice-chairpersons Tahir Hussain Khan (Balochistan), Sher Muhammad Khan (Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa) and Amarnath Motumal (Sindh), Executive Council members Asma
Jahangir, Zahoor Ahmed Shahwani and Habib Tahir, journalists Arifa Noor and
Amir Mateen, novelist Muhammad Hanif and academic Prof. Azizuddin Ahmed,
Secretary General I.A. Rehman, Hussain Naqi and Najam U Din from HRCP
Secretariat and HRCP Quetta office coordinator Farid Ahmed visited Balochistan
on May 15th of this year. They spent five days to analyze the ground realities
behind severe violation of human rights in the province. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">According to
report there are multiple layers of violence and tension in
Balochistan. Law and order was a problem that casts a long shadow on all
aspects of life. The crime wave that had engulfed urban Balochistan and the
main highways was either a mark of collusion or utter incompetence of the
authorities. The government, law enforcement and security agencies had
completely failed to deal with militant/insurgent, sectarian and criminal
elements.</span><br /> <br />Kidnappings for ransom had become a profitable enterprise. No perpetrator had been arrested or tried. It was difficult to see how the kidnappers could operate despite heavy security deployment. <br /><br />There was a widespread feeling that the national media had abandoned Balochistan and not given as much coverage to the events and incidents as their importance demanded. Even when whole cities were shut down during a strike the media did not report that. Journalists in the field felt threatened from the security forces, militants and insurgents. The people in the districts affected by the insurgency in general and journalists in particular felt like hostages. If they said one thing they were traitors to one side and if they did not they were traitors to the other side. The stories that the journalists did file were often covered only in Balochistan editions of publications by national level media organizations. That prevented the people elsewhere in Pakistan from getting the true picture of the situation in the province. <br /> <br />The problems in Balochistan had long been looked at in the perspective of a Baloch insurgency and Baloch rights. There was a need to have a holistic look at all the problems in Balochistan, including those faced by a substantial Pakhtun population, the Hazaras, non-Muslims and settlers as well as economic and livelihood issues in the province. <br /> <br />There were complaints of the state’s inability or unwillingness to protect the lives of religious minorities as well as members of some Muslim sects. Killings and harassment of the settler population by the insurgents had led to the settlers shifting to Pakhtun-majority areas or to leave the province altogether. <br /> <br />Talibanization was growing in several areas. Unlike the past, religious fanaticism was not merely being exported to the province from elsewhere. It was now being bred in Balochistan. A growing network of madrassas had contributed to aggravation of inter-sect tensions. There were fears that the security forces were patronizing militants and Quetta was being turned into a haven for militants. There were said to be militants’ training camps in the province. <br /> <br />The total electricity need of Balochistan was very small compared to the needs of the other provinces. Yet the people in the province faced excessive electricity suspension. The people demanded that the government should accept an Iranian offer to supply 1,000 megawatts of electricity to Pakistan and use the same in Balochistan. <br /><br /> The provincial government was nowhere to be seen in the crises. The chief minister was away from the province for a lot of time and the provincial government held meetings regarding Balochistan outside the province. The provincial government seemed to have earned a lot of discredit in a short span of time. In probably the only example of its kind, all but one member of the provincial assembly was in the cabinet. After the 18th Amendment and the National Finance Commission Award, more funds had certainly become available to Balochistan but those did not seem to have trickled down. A general observation was that corruption had spiked by the same margin.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.hrcp-web.org/pdf/Balochistan%20Report%202012.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Click here to access complete report for detailed insight)</span></a></span></div>
Haroon Balochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05458994835813009410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319461158663863917.post-79346103711702261722012-08-16T05:33:00.000+05:002012-08-16T21:10:15.228+05:00Kamra airbase under attack by terrorists<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By: Haroon Baloch</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kamra: Attackers bombed inside the base - </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Air Force Base Minhas, Kamra</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, strategically one of the most important air bases of Pakistan, had come under attack by the heavily loaded terrorists disguised in air force uniforms, which resulted in killing of a security official and injuring one squadron leader while guarding the base. Terrorists also succeeded in partially damaging surveillance aircraft - Saab 2000. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, in a very important speech of independence day on 14th August in Kakul Academy had called for national unity in the battle against terrorism and said no state can afford a parallel system or a militant force.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /> One-day before COAS General Kayani's statement, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta stated that Pakistan had assured us to instigate operation in North Waziristan agency and in this regard, he discussed the operation details with General John Allen in a recent meeting in Rawalpindi.<br /><br /> "General Kayani clearly stated that this operation is exclusively against Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan rather than Haqqani Network", Panetta said.<br /><br /> Pakistan army continuously engages the terrorists in tribal areas of northwestern part of the country, but this attack is the third time of its kind where terrorists have engaged security forces' main bases including PNS Mehran Naval base on 22 May, 2011 in Karachi and Pakistan army's General Head Quarter (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on 10 October, 2009.<br /><br />Kamra airbase is considered one of the most important bases of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) where assembling of JF-17 Thunder, jet fighter Pakistan has developed with assistance of China, also takes place in Pakistan Aeronautical Complex other than training of pilots. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span>
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Haroon Balochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05458994835813009410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319461158663863917.post-56258712864774896992012-08-14T21:34:00.001+05:002012-08-14T21:34:45.821+05:00Crazy jubilation of Independence<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By: Haroon Baloch</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ISLAMABAD: Although prevailing crises in country did not allow majority to celebrate 66th day of independence on August 14th, but enthusiasm of youth in major cities was worth seeing. They celebrated country's independence day in a crazy way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Islamabad: Crazy youth gathering at Faizabad junction to </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">commemorate 14th August - Photo: Haroon Baloch </span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Islamabad: Faizabad leads Expressway to Grand Trunk </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">road for Lahore in the east and Peshawar in the west - </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Photo - Haroon Baloch</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Islamabad: Biking in a crazy way on Expressway is their </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hobby - Photo: Haroon Baloch</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Islamabad: One wheelers break all rules without any </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hesitation </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">in the name of independence </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;">- Photo: Haroon Baloch</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Islamabad: One-wheeling claims dozens of lives every year </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">in Pakistan - Photo: Haroon Baloch</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Islamabad: One wheelers proudly push themselves into </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">danger - Photo: Haroon Baloch</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Islamabad: One-wheeling was strictly banned in the country </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to avoid any incident - Photo: Haroon Baloch<span style="text-align: center;"> </span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">direction may lead them to success in their lives - </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Photo: Haroon Baloch</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Islamabad: In love with their country, they are the proud </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">nation - Photo: Haroon Baloch</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">bandwagon- Photo: Haroon Baloch</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">bicycle is another tool - Photo: Haroon Baloch</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Islamabad: Installing flags on vehicles is another way to </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">express gratitude towards motherland - Photo: Haroon Baloch </span></div>
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Haroon Balochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05458994835813009410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319461158663863917.post-43610821534028192492012-08-10T12:33:00.000+05:002012-08-10T12:35:59.237+05:00Disaster in slow motion: The retreating Himalayas: food security at stake<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong class="location">By: Haroon Baloch</strong></span><br />
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Glacial meltdown in the Himalayan region </div>
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is not caused solely by global warming – </div>
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it is as much a product of human activities in </div>
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the region. PHOTO: Express Tribune.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>If the unprecedented rate of glacial retreat in the South Asian region is not checked, countries in the area are likely to turn highly food-insecure. Pakistan’s latest Climate Change Policy clearly indicates that freshwater resources in Pakistan are dependent on snow and glacial melting and monsoon rains; both of which are highly sensitive to climate change.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 2000-2001, the country faced severe food scarcity because of lower-than-average rainfall. The worst ever drought in its history hit Pakistan, with the Balochistan and Sindh provinces suffering the most. The famine affected around 1.2 million people in 26 districts; 127 people died in Sindh due to dehydration and severe water shortages, whereas in the Nushki district in Balochistan, which had not received a single drop of rain in five years, 2 million animals were lost.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gradually, the drought ended; but in 2004-2005 and 2009-2010, the country again faced moderate droughts. In late July of 2010, the country was suddenly inundated immediately after the drought period. The countrywide flooding was unprecedented and wreaked havoc incomparable to any other disaster of a similar nature in Pakistan’s history.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span> </h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Himalayan Geography</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">South Asia – the monsoon’s corridor – is blessed with the world’s second largest frozen water sources: the Himalayas, spread over 2,400km from west to east. The Himalayas hosts some of the world’s tallest mountain systems, including the Karakorum, Hindu Kush and Pamir ranges. The Himalayas are also responsible for meeting the water needs of roughly one-fifth of the world’s population.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span> </h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Retreating Himalayas</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Glacial retreat is a phenomenon that scientists normally attribute to global warming; it is caused by an increase in the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases due to human activities such as deforestation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Islamabad-based climatologist Arshad H Abbasi, who works at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute, rejects the notion that unprecedented melting in Himalayan glaciers can be attributed merely to global warming.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Most of the glaciers in Karakorum are losing their ice rapidly because of human activity on and around them; specifically the usage of ‘dirty’ fuels,” Abbasi says; adding that the coal India burns to meet 70% of its energy needs contains 30-40% ash content, while international standards does not permit it to be over than 8-10%.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“[Furthermore,] since India and Pakistan are at war in Siachen, they have developed preliminary infrastructure like ports, helipads and pipelines to supply kerosene to their camps,” Abbasi informs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 1999, the Military Engineering Services of India reported that the military presence in Siachen is devastating for the glacier: satellite images confirmed cracks in the Saltoro Ridge, while a number of lake outbursts have emerged from the glacier, a clear evidence of its accelerating melt.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vice President of World Meteorological Organization Asia, and author of Pakistan’s first ever National Climate Change Policy, Dr Qamaruz Zaman Chaudhry seconds Abbasi’s notion and says, “the presence of both armies at Siachen is accelerating a process which global warming and carbon soot deposits instigated.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span> </h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Changing rain patterns</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 2010, Siachen witnessed a huge cloudburst that ended up inundating the entire Indus Valley Basin. Abbasi reiterates that the flooding can be attributed to human activity in the area, rather than global warming.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span> </h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Depleting crop productivity</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Glacial retreat bodes ill for of all villagers in the region whose livelihoods are directly dependent on their cultivations.Punjab Water Council Director Rabia Sultan is of the view that the sharing of the Indus’ water resources between the provinces has been shrinking due to a depleting water table, which corresponds to the severe stress on water resources.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is the reason behind shortages in water availability for both crops and domestic use in distant areas of Punjab.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As an example of the consequences of irregular water supply, consider the following example: In the area of Dajal in Rajanpur district, authorities stopped water supply to the Dajal canal in 2008. As a result, wheat cultivations on thousands of acres were ruined; within the next three years, wheat, maize, rice and other crops’ production dropped significantly by up to 40-50%.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Small farmers who cultivate their crops on 5-10 acres of land have to bear the major brunt of this crisis,” says Qazi Sajjad Dajali, a farmer in Dajal. “Groundwater throughout the district, except in the Rajanpur and Jampur cities, is already sour. Villagers can neither utilise it for farming, nor for drinking,” Sajjad asserts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A regional strategy is the need of the hour to combat future threats from climate change. Both India and Pakistan should decide to retreat from their glacial warzones and be more attentive to their preservation; in order that they may ensure the prosperity of agriculture, and food security in the region.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">THE WRITER IS A JOURNALIST BASED IN ISLAMABAD AND WORKS FOR A PRIVATE TELEVISION BROADCASTING COMPANY</span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/395066/disaster-in-slow-motion-the-retreating-himalayas-food-security-at-stake/" target="_blank">Published in The Express Tribune, June 18<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>, 2012.</a></span></em><br />
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</div>Haroon Balochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05458994835813009410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319461158663863917.post-64366363662246722012012-08-08T18:37:00.002+05:002012-08-08T18:48:50.300+05:00Alishba fights to resolve conflicts from society<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By: Haroon Baloch</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/6hIr4tqK2So?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ISLAMABAD: A group of you</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ng Christians, from a slum area of federal capital, is struggling to mitigate on social evils and uplift of their community. Alishba Yousuf, 17, an enlightened mind among others in the group writes stage plays particularly on resolving conflicts and promoting religious harmony in the society. </span></div>Haroon Balochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05458994835813009410noreply@blogger.com0