A case was registered on Thursday against unidentified persons involved in spreading “blasphemous material” on social media, amid a top Pakistan court’s call for a ban on such sites due to the spread of “blasphemous” images. The case was registered at Raman Police Station after Islamabad High Court (IHC) ordered the government to implicate those running “blasphemous Facebook pages”. “Sentiments of Muslims have been hurt by the content being shared on these pages,” according to the FIR.
The relevant sections of blasphemy laws have been invoked against the perpetrators of the crime, an official said.
The action came two days after Islamabad High Court Judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui called for a ban on social media sites in Pakistan due to the spread of “blasphemous” images online.
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Justice Siddiqui on March 7 had ordered Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan to take immediate action to eliminate access to blasphemous content on social media.
Justice Siddiqui also ordered to put names of the people found to have posted blasphemous content online on the Exit Control List, thereby prohibiting them from leaving Pakistan.
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The controversial blasphemy laws were introduced in Pakistan by former military ruler Zia-ul-Haq in the 80s and anyone charged under the laws become an easy target for extremists.