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Human Rights in Sindh

SOHRIS

Control.pk

July 28, 2023

THE PDM government, much like the PTI government before it, has proven that our politicians have little interest in protecting civil liberties if there is something to be gained from surrendering them.

Two bills, aimed at bringing under state control online media and digital platforms — the last remaining spaces where most Pakistanis can still freely express themselves — received the federal cabinet’s nod of approval on Monday.

The innocuously titled ‘Personal Data Protection Bill’ and ‘E-Safety Bill’ are, critics say, much more sinister in intent than their titles suggest. Internet rights activists have slammed the government, with a statement circulating on the internet, co-signed by industry pioneers as well as prominent digital rights activists, lawyers and journalists, stressing that “legislation prepared in secrecy and passed in haste disregarding input and clear reservations, serves no protective purpose but reeks of nefarious designs to further curb the rights and liberties of citizens”. The signatories to the statement believe that “these bills must not be passed”.

Separately, the Asia Internet Coalition has especially criticised the Personal Data Protection Bill, saying it “falls short of international standards for data protection and creates unnecessary complexities that will increase the cost of doing business and dampen foreign investment”.

The managing director of the organisation also pointed out that “the bill creates additional barriers to digital trade at a critical time, when Pakistan’s economic growth demands paramount attention”.

The question naturally arises: how does the PDM government, which has pinned much of its economic turnaround hope on growth in the country’s nascent IT industry, square its vision with such measures that, if they do not kill the nascent IT industry, will surely cripple it?

It defies understanding, and it is unsurprising that the reaction to its secretive new laws has been swift and condemnatory. The government clearly has no clue about how to empower the industry and unlock its potential.

It is obvious that the need for these legislative interventions has not arisen from any pressing public concern. This much is evident from the manner in which the two bills were quietly drafted, tabled before the cabinet, and hurriedly passed. Even the government’s allies, it seems, were unaware of their existence.

Observers fear it is the state that has been unable to shut down the unbridled ridicule and criticism it has lately been receiving online, which is pushing these laws. To them, it wants the same control over online publishing platforms that it has over traditional media.

The PTI learnt after its ouster that, had it not been for the Islamabad High Court striking down very similar rules and laws it had introduced towards the tail-end of its tenure, it would have quickly been crushed by the state. The PDM should not repeat the same mistake.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2023

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  • Human Rights
    • What are Human Rights?
    • Civil and Political Rights in Sindh
      • Freedom of Expression, Opinion, and Belief
      • Right to Life
      • Access to Justice
      • Right to Privacy
      • Right to Political Participation
      • Right to a Nationality
      • Freedom from Torture and Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment
      • Right to Equality and Non-Discrimination
      • Other Civil and Political Rights
    • Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Sindh
      • Right to Work
      • Right to Education
      • Right to Health & Healthy Environment
      • Right to Housing
      • Right to Food & Water
      • Right to Social Security
      • Right to Culture
      • Right to Information
      • Other Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
    • Rights of Vulnerable Populations in Sindh
      • Rights of Women
      • Rights of Children
      • Rights of Minorities
      • Rights of Labour
      • Rights of Persons with Special Abilities
      • Rights of Refugees and Migrants
      • Rights of Older Persons 
      • Rights of Transgender Persons
      • Rights of Other Vulnerable Populations
  • Policies & Laws
    • Constitution of Pakistan 1973
    • Sindh Laws
    • National Laws
    • Sindh Policies
    • National Policies
    • International HR Regimes
      • International HR Law
      • UN Core Treaties
      • Status of Treaty Ratifications by Pakistan
      • UN Treaties Compliance by Pakistan
      • International Labour Standards
      • Status of ILO Conventions Ratifications
      • Compliance of ILO Conventions by Pakistan
  • Institutions
    • Government Institutions Sindh
    • UN Agencies
    • CSOs
      • Submit Feedback
    • Helplines
  • Knowledge Base
    • Sindh Profile
    • Developments
    • Perspective
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      • All Publications
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  • About
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