• November 22, 2024
• Access to Information

The Chairman of Pakistan’s Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), Dr. Raghib Hussain Naeemi, has clarified that his controversial remarks declaring Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) “un-Islamic” stemmed from a typo error. During a press conference on November 20, following a council meeting, Dr. Naeemi clarified that the proclamation issued on November 15 mistakenly omitted the word “not,” leading to the […]

• November 22, 2024
• Access to Information

On November 21, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Major General Hafeezur Rehman (Retd), while speaking to the media, clarified that they have not yet received any official directives to suspend mobile services in the country. His statement comes amid growing speculation over possible disruptions ahead of planned political activities. Media reports, citing unnamed sources, have indicated that the federal […]

• November 22, 2024
• Access to Information

A citizen, Mubashir Qayyum, has approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to challenge the federal government’s decision to restrict Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) across the country, arguing that the move infringes upon the fundamental rights of citizens. In the petition filed on November 19, Qayyum described himself as a direct victim of the VPN ban. […]

• November 21, 2024
• Access to Information

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has dismissed allegations that the widespread use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) is responsible for recent internet slowdowns across the country. The clarification was made during the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication meeting held on November 19. The PTA’s stance contradicts earlier remarks made by IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja […]

• November 21, 2024
• General News

A senior reporter associated with 92 News channel Nadeem Ahmad, was injured in a gun attack in Karachi’s Bahadurabad area on the evening of November 19. The incident occurred after a verbal altercation between Ahmad and the driver of a high-end Vigo vehicle over reckless driving. Ahmad had asked the driver to reduce speed, which led to an argument. The […]

• November 19, 2024
• Access to Information

On November 18, the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications expressed its frustration over the absence of the Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, and the federal IT secretary from a key meeting. The committee also raised serious concerns over the government’s measures to restrict the use of Virtual […]

• November 19, 2024
• Freedom of Expression, Front Page, Media and Governance, Media and Society

The United Nations Human Rights Committee (Committee) has called on Pakistan to “fully implement” the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act 2021 and “swiftly establish” the Commission mandated under the law. The Committee called on the State to guarantee that journalists and others, including human rights defenders and civil society actors, can work “safely, […]

• November 19, 2024
• Social Media

Meta hosted a key event named “Creators Connect” in Karachi, gathering around 40 content creators from different parts of Pakistan. The event was part of Meta’s ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration and resource-sharing among the country’s growing digital talent. The tech giant collaborated with prominent creators such as Food Fusion, Samosiii, and Osamah Nasir, focusing on innovative content creation […]

• November 19, 2024
• Access to Information

The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) Chairman, Allama Dr. Raghib Naeemi, has shed light on the recent fatwa concerning the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) under Islamic law, emphasizing that the permissibility of VPN usage hinges on the user’s intentions and purposes. Dr. Naeemi made this clarification during an appearance on the Geo News morning show, […]

• November 19, 2024
• General News

The Karachi Press Club (KPC), in partnership with the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), and factions of the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ), convened a meeting on November 16 to address the growing concerns over the government’s internet restrictions imposed under the guise of national security. Participants denounced the […]

• November 19, 2024
• Access to Information

The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications was set to convene on November 18 to discuss the blocking of VPNs, with or without the ministry’s participation. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Palwasha Khan, who chairs the committee, confirmed the meeting will proceed despite repeated refusals from the ministry to attend. “We will present our reservations regarding […]

• November 19, 2024
• Access to Information

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has simplified the registration process for Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to make it easier for a wide range of users, including software houses, call centers, banks, embassies, and freelancers through PTA’s website. In a statement, the PTA outlined that members of the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) are among those eligible to benefit from […]

• November 19, 2024
• General News

Director Public Relations Gujranwala, Waqar Javed Naqvi, on behalf of DGPR Lahore, distributed cheques worth Rs. 50,000 each to four journalists from Sialkot. The ceremony took place on November 17, at the District Information Office (DIO). The journalists who received financial support included Munir Butt, Abdul Hameed Mirza, Zayad Tahsin Tariq, and Shakeel Sehti. Addressing the participants, […]

• November 19, 2024
• Obituaries

Khaled Ahmed, a pioneering figure in Pakistan’s English journalism, passed away on November 17 at the age of 81 in his Zaman Park residence in Lahore. He reportedly succumbed to cardiac arrest. Born in 1943 in Jalandhar during World War II, Khaled Ahmed became one of Pakistan’s most respected analysts, known for his sharp intellect and deep […]