Carrying blasphemous materials: LHC asks IT ministry to block access to all websites

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday directed ministry of information technology to block access to all websites in Pakistan, which are spreading religious hatred and carrying blasphemous materials. The court while directing the ministry to submit a compliance report by October 6 observed that no search engine including "Google" would be blocked.
Muhammad & Ahmad, a public interest litigation firm, through its chairman Muhammad Azhar Siddique Advocate filed the petition and prayed for a permanent ban on access to Facebook for hosting a fresh blasphemous caricature drawing contest under the title "2nd Annual Draw Muhammad Day-May 20, 2011".
The petitioner pointed out that Islamic values are being derogated in the name of information, which is hurting the feelings of Muslims across the globe. He said despite the order of the court, the ministry did not block websites spreading religious hatred.
He said the government be directed to establish a permanent authority, having legal status, which would monitor such objectionable activities, so that blasphemy of Holy Prophet including the holy personalities of all religions be banned forever.