Pakistan bans 'immoral' late night mobe deals
Whatever you're talking about late at night, Pakistan doesn't want to hear it
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Pakistan's Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has banned mobile packages offering cheap late night calls after deeming that they go against the country’s “values”.
The PTA explained it had taken the hardline action after complaints from religious groups, politicians and members of the public that the packages were against “social norms” in the Islamic republic, according to Press Trust of India.
“We have received a number of complaints from the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the Standing Committee of the parliament, and subscribers regarding the promotion of vulgarity through such advertisements and have therefore asked cellular mobile operators to immediately discontinue such packages and to present compliance reports,” said PTA Chairman Farooq Awan.
The decision was taken after mobile operators summoned by the PTA apparently admitted that their advertising for so-called “late night packages” was not in tune with the moral values of the country.
Unsurprisingly, Pakistan’s vocal Twitter users took to the microblog to vent their anger at the decision.
Shireen Mazari tweeted the following: “PTA declares late night talk packages "immoral"! So now PTA upholder of morality suddenly in Pak! What is immoral is the corrupt leadership!”
Another, Mehreen Kasara, said: “PTA orders ban on late night mobile packages. They're "not in line with social moral values". Morality has timings? Uh.”
This isn’t the first time the PTA has bowed to pressure from conservative elements in the country.
A year ago it prohibited operators from allowing the transmission of SMS messages featuring offensive words, and has also been responsible for blocking sites such as YouTube and Twitter for hosting profane or offensive content.
It also went as far earlier this year as a publishing a request for proposals for a nationwide content filtering system similar to China’s Great Firewall, although these plans appear to have been shelved for the time being due to public protests. ®
COMMENTS
Against our moral values = making it harder to isolate women so they don't talk to men. What a twisted place.
Very sad
There's a quote from an Indian writer which I remember whenever I read things like this:
"The idea of India is better than the best Indian; the idea of Pakistan is worse than the worst Pakistani."
India was explicitly set up as a multi-ethnic, multi-religious democracy, and despite the efforts of some BJP nationalists it remains that today. Pakistan was set up as a state for one religion, and that exclusivity has led it down a path that would have Jinnah spinning in his grave. Pakistan first turned on its Hindus, then on its Bengalis, and now it's the Shia and Christians turn.
This pandering to fanaticism is eating Pakistan alive, and I don't see any hope for the immediate future.
Wow.
And here I thought those deals were to encourage people to use the network when it's less busy. But really they were meant to encourage booty calls all along? Good to know.
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