Call for permanent ban on Facebook in Pak for promoting blasphemy

LAHORE - Blaming the social networking website-Facebook for hurting the sentiments of Muslims by holding competitions of drawing caricatures of Prophet Muhammad, Pakistan’s Senate Standing Committee on Interior chairman Talha Mahmood has demanded a permanent ban on the website.

Addressing a press conference here, Mahmood said that the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) must come up with an effective strategy to counter such practices by the anti-Islam lobby.

“Facebook should be permanently banned in Pakistan. Temporary blocking of Facebook is not a solution; it should be closed as anti-Islam elements have been hurting the sentiments of the Muslims in the past too,” The Nation quoted Mahmood, as saying.

Earlier, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority following an order from the Lahore High Court, had partially banned access to Facebook for promoting blasphemous activities. (ANI)