Don't Ban Facebook in Pakistan

Google Celebrates Pakistan Independence Day With Doodle

Waqas Ali — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 19:33:37 +0000

Google is celebrating Independence Day of Pakistan with its awesome new Doodle. You can see the picture here or view the live on Google.com.pk page.

The photo looks both like the decorated backs of Pakistani Trucks, or honestly I don’t know what inspired the designer(s). But I love it. What do you think of?

Related Posts:
- Google’s doodles: Who’s behind them? (bbc.co.uk)

Twitter Is Blocked In Pakistan

Waqas Ali — Sun, 20 May 2012 12:02:05 +0000

Reblogged from Waqas Ali:

That’s right. Twitter bird is in the cage of Pakistani government. One never knows, what they are up to and till when.

Our IT Ministry thinks that if someone in the world create and share blasphemous content through social media sites. Then it is in the best interest of the state and people to block the site for millions of users in the country.

Oct 20: LHC Justice Says Only Dictators Ban Facebook

Waqas Ali — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 05:31:57 +0000

A Lahore High Court Lawyer Yasser Latif narrated the comments of Justice Azmat Saeed on twitter. See his tweets and some of others below.

Justice Azmat Saeed : #FACEBOOK WILL NOT BE BANNED!!! Only Dictators ban Communication. Hosni Mubarik is no where now! #victory—
Yasser Latif Hamdani (@theRealYLH) October 20, 2011

This is a quite a positive statement from an institution, which has been misjudging Facebook lately. Thanks to the Justice Azmat, lawyer Yasser Latif and other people who made this happen at LHC.

LHC Orders to Ban Blasphemous Page, Not Facebook

Waqas Ali — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 18:48:31 +0000

While Facebook is busy rolling out new features for its users better connect with world. Pakistani media is misreporting the issue of Facebook Ban.

I and you have been following the news stories of LHC’s order to ban Facebook again in Pakistan. Don’t panic.

From few sources I learned that Lahore High Court is considering a ban only on those Facebook Page / Groups which are spreading blasphemous content.

This is also confirmed by Rabia Mehmood, news reported for Express 24/7, who talked with Azher Siddique, the petioner. Here is her tweet.

Spoke to Azher Siddique, he says LHC has ordered blocking of the pages w/ Prophet's carricatures on FB but no ban on FB has been ordered.—
Rabia Mehmood (@Rabail26) September 20, 2011

Do you personally think Facebook should be ban in Pakistan? If yes, please tell me in comments why.

Related Stories:

Assholes Are Everywhere; French Ban Word ‘Facebook’ and ‘Twitter’ on TV and Radio

Waqas Ali — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 13:03:22 +0000

You don’t need to come and visit Pakistan to experience a time to time censorship on social networking sites, now this facility is available in many other countries. The newly added is France.

Broadcasting anchors and TV/Radio hosts are forbidden to use the word Twitter and Facebook unless it is seriously important or directly related to the news.

” Christine Kelly, spokesman for France’s Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel (CSA), thinks that the government is correct to uphold this law. Why give preference to Facebook, which is worth billions of dollars, when there are many other social networks that are struggling for recognition?’ she asked.”

According to TechCrunch, now brands will consider asking something, ‘Follow us on Social Media’ instead of Follow us on Twitter or Like us on Facebook.

The decision is being made on the base that mentioning the popular social media sites is a hidden form of advertising. Well, then why the heck France banned the word email in 2003?

We believe that social sites like Facebook and Twitter empowers common people to communicate and influence more effectively. And banning these names will damage the growth of social media use in France, also it is not a good example at all.

Let’s see how French people respond to this new kind of ban.

* * *

Pakistan is Facebook 2nd Fastest Growing Country in Middle East

Waqas Ali — Wed, 25 May 2011 18:26:58 +0000

Facebook growth in Pakistan is at its peak, as we see 267,000 new users signed up for Facebook during April11-May11. It mean 8,900 new people were joining Facebook everyday from Pakistan. InsideFacebook wrote a post about Facebook growth in Middle East during past months which can be found here.

You must have seen some of your cousin, old friends and co-workers sending you friends requests on Facebook. This is because they joined too.

The major factor behind the growth of social media sites, especially Facebook is that many young Pakistanis are now getting access to internet because of the availability of DSL & wireless internet providers in Pakistan. It seems its not the peak, it is just the beginning of a new era of communication and media in Pakistan.

Is not this fabulous? I think it is.

Alexa rank Facebook as most popular website in Pakistan, leaving Google (2nd & 3rd) and YouTube (4th) behind.

Also Facebook is the 3rd most popular term to be searched in Google from Pakistan in last 3 months.

Google Insight Search - Showing top search items of last three months from Pakistan

here is the link for this table

Also now we see an increase in use of social media by conventional media. Top players of TV and print media are utilizing social sites to syndicate their news.

Where social media enables anyone to become a source of information, many people from Pakistan are using it for their personal purpose by spreading hatred and false news. So it is more important for us to recommend only reliable and genuine source of information.

We really hope that social media will help Pakistanis become a better citizen by allowing them to have free access to any kind of information. And these well informed, well connected and bigger minds will take Pakistan to next level.

Please share your input in comments below and help us spread the word. Thank you!

Question: Who is Against Freedom of Speech in Pakistan? #DontBan

Waqas Ali — Thu, 12 May 2011 22:18:37 +0000

Hello dear supporter,

Please help us understand, who is against freedom of speech in Pakistan? Why?
Share your thoughts in the comments below and we’ll use your input to write next story on the status of freedom of speech in Pakistan.

Especially feel free to share any story / real life experience related to freedom-of-speech in Pakistan.

Thank you for supporting the cause, keep doing the good work you do.

And remember:

#DontBan Citizen Journalism, Freedom-of-Speech, and Facebook in Pakistan (dontbanfacebook.wordpress.com)
Follow us on Twitter

Do Not Change Your Action Because of A Small Minority

Waqas Ali — Sat, 07 May 2011 21:17:08 +0000

I was just looking into Facebook, trying to find how my friends using Facebook and how Facebook team is helping people connect more efficiently.

One thing which I noticed is, that most of the people on Facebook are peaceful in general. They’re engaged in the communities which they like, their interests range from cooking, business, life-style, news, religion and all the little things between. But they are happy, just like you are.

But there is only a very small minority both from non-Muslims and yes Muslims as well. Who fights each other on Facebook and humiliate each other’s religious views. But it doesn’t invite peaceful people like you to boycott Facebook or ban it in Pakistan. Taking it away from the people who are using it for good.

I really hope, you get the point. If few hundreds folks start sharing hatred content against your personal belief, boycotting is not the thing to do. But you can use the same tool to defend your views and show a genuine and peaceful picture of your believes.

I humbly request you to share this post to a vast majority of friends, encouraging the message of tolerance and peace.

And if you do not get what we’re striving for, share your views and we can sort it out by conversation. Thank you. But please don’t support them, who wants to snatch freedom-of-speech from citizens.

Why Not to Ban Facebook in Pakistan or Anywhere Else (dontbanfacebook.wordpress.com)

#DontBan Citizen Journalism, Freedom-of-Speech, and Facebook in Pakistan

Waqas Ali — Sat, 07 May 2011 14:46:01 +0000

It’s amazing to find good number of people here who cares freedom-of-speech, citizen journalism, and right of access to information. We got an amazing response in our first 18 hours. Here are some of the stats of our online cause.

160 views on our site.
35 mentions on Twitter.
68 people Liked our posts.
17 supporter on Facebook & 6 on Twitter

Thank You!

Now is the time for the next step. Now is the time to bring more people on board, this is not fight against any individual or institution. This is fight to save and empower freedom-of-speech in Pakistan. This is cause to build a well-informed and open-minded Pakistan.

This is a NAKED PUNCH against those who think they can move the people of Pakistan any time in any direction for their self interests (which are almost always against us, the people). This is the time to define Social Media in Pakistan for good. This is the time to make sure no one tape our mouth when we want to speak for truth. This is the time to Speak UP, Speak UP, Speak UP!

Yes you heard the right thing, Speak UP! But HOW?

Speak up in comments below.
Subscribe to our blog to stay updated.
Tell others about the cause.
Write for us, visit Speak Up.
Get ready for our 15,000 Missed Calls at PTA.

Got something to say? Say in comments below.

How Facebook Helped Flood Victims in Pakistan.

Waqas Ali — Sat, 07 May 2011 09:06:59 +0000

Pakistan has been struck by the worst flooding in its history in late July 2010. The devastating floods have affected around 20 million ( 6 million are children ) people and killed 1500, but UN officials suggested the death tolls could prove to be higher.

UN spokesperson Maurizio Giuliano said:
“ This disaster is worse than the Southeast Asia Tsunami, the 2005 Pakistan earthquake and the Haiti earthquake. “

Social Media earned a spot alongside relief planner and traditional news media. The user-generated messages supported organizations on a second by second basis. Social Media has become the medium in which every body spread the word.

People of Pakistan, our thoughts R with U http://bit.ly/CarePakistan or send $10 by phone by texting the word "FLOOD" to 27722 #Pakistan—
TomCruise.com (@TomCruise) August 23, 2010

The most important part of social media impact is, it makes people (like us) feel like they are empowered enough to make a difference. Real-time communication platforms like Twitter and Facebook helped spread the word about what’s happening within and how one can help.

Qalandar Memon, a volunteer, respond to the question how social media is helping his organization to help floods victims:

”Yes it is useful. It allows me to get the message to people and keep them updated. This has helped increase donations and also transparency. So people on my Facebook who I have not met for many years have being sending money. While, they can also keep apace with what his happening through my updates.”

NPOs from Pakistan and around the world utilized social media especially Facebook and Twitter to raise fund for the victims. In fact some good people from Pakistan are still working for victims and using Facebook as their primary communication tool.

Another small community of individual raised 2 Millions for the victims.

You don’t need to be super rich to give a helping hand especially in a crisis such as this. Tweets & status updates of NPOs are being reshared by their followers, motivating masses across the world to donate for relief.

Facebook users in Pakistan were more informed about flood disaster and relief than others. Millions of pictures and videos of victims and affected areas were being shared.

People are showing that we can make a genuine positive impact on our world in the age of Facebook and social media.

It is true that Facebook isn’t going to heal the people of Pakistan alone. It is just a collection of tools, it’s up to us the people to make the real impact on our world. And believe us banning will not bring a harmony to Islam, Pakistan or You. When whole world is moving forward, why the hell we do not grow up, why the hell we are being run by few illiterate minds who don’t want to see us empowered, well-informed.

It is your turn now, speak up, spread the word. Go make some noise for good.
Have your say in comments.