Pak defers 'obscene' SMS messages ban deadline

Islamabad: Pakistani mobile phone operators today deferred the implementation of an order to block nearly 1,700 offensive and obscene words from SMS messages, saying they were holding discussions with the telecom regulator on the issue. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority recently issued two lists of offensive English and Urdu words and terms – containing 1,106 and 586 items respectively – that it wanted mobile operators to block. The move was greeted with ridicule and derision by millions of mobile and internet users. “We are in discussions with the regulator to evaluate this proposal. Once we reach a mutual agreement, we will take appropriate action,” said Omar Manzur, spokesman for Mobilink, Pakistan’s leading telecom operator. Asked if it would be feasible to filter so many words and phrases from the millions of text messages sent every day, Manzur told: “That is part of the discussions. We are reviewing if that will be technically possible.” [caption id=“attachment_137142” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“The officials said the measure could severely disrupt SMS communications. Reuters.”] [/caption] Officials of other mobile phone firms, who did not want to be named, said they had concerns about the PTA’s proposal, which has been criticised by rights activists. The officials said the measure could severely disrupt SMS communications. Rights group Bytes for All said it would challenge the PTA’s directive in court, describing it as a “ruthless wave of moral policing” that violated rights to free speech and privacy. “We are talking to a few lawyers to take this matter to court. We will file a petition if this directive is not withdrawn,” Shahzad Ahmad, country coordinator for Bytes for All Pakistan told. Ahmad contended that PTA had not done any study before issuing the directive and the measure would cripple mobile phone networks. Ahmad said they have used “vague terminology and sent out a wrong message to the whole world about Pakistan”. A letter written to mobile phone operators on 14 November by PTA’s Director General (Services) Muhammad Talib Doger had instructed them to start filtering SMS messages within a week. Watch Al Jazeera’s video of reactions to the order However, industry insiders said it would not be possible to implement the measure within the deadline. While the English list has 148 items, including a four- letter swear word, it has left many scratching their heads by including words and terms like athlete’s foot, deposit, black out, drunk, flatulence, glazed donut, idiot, harem, Jesus Christ, hostage, murder, penthouse, Satan, virgin and “flogging the dolphin”. PTA spokesman Mohammad Younis acknowledged the “reservations” of telecom firms and said his organisation was prepared to resolve such issues through discussions. He noted that there had been two holidays since the instruction was issued and there were two days left to comply with the measure. In the past, PTA has blocked websites with pornographic materials or images deemed offensive to Islam, including Facebook pages with blasphemous caricatures of Prophet Mohammed. The action was taken following orders from courts. However, this is the first time it has sought to censor SMS messages. PTI