Shia Victimization : Pakistani Shia man jailed for 13 years for Facebook ‘hate speech’ allegation

A person was sentenced to 13 years in prison by the counter terrorism court of Lahore apparently for posting hate speech on Facebook. An officer of CTD, on condition of anonymity, told AFP that a 32 year old person named Saqlain who runs a small hotel in Chiniot was arrested, sentenced to prison and also fined for 2.5 lacs whereas SSP Ata ur Rahman of CTD told Dawn that the Saqlain would be punished and fined after his crime is proved. Another senior and local CTD officer Abdul Majeed told that Saqlain was arrested on 27th October on complaints. He was alleged for spreading sectarian hatred under different acts of counter terrorism act. Majeed further told that the culprit was released on bail only after a day however, was again arrested on 21st November when court sentenced him. A Human Rights group ‘Bytes for All’ told that it was unable to verify the details of Saqlain’s case and expressed concerned that the case was heard in a counter terrorism court because apparently it was about online material not about any terrorist act.

Spokesperson of the Human Rights group also highlighted that banned groups like TTP and LeJ have been very active on social media and have been freely working. Although Pakistan Telecommunication Authority had closed hundreds of extremist and sectarian websites and social media accounts, in past, but they come up again with different names. According to ‘Bytes for All’ Saqlain’s case was new for them in which a person was sentenced for posting sectarian material on Facebook. Dawn had reported in July that a case was registered against an Imam (prayer leader) under counter terrorism act for posting hate material on Facebook.

It is also important to mention here that the Nawaz government is not taking any single step to stop those takfiries  who spreading hate material against Shia/Suni Sufi Muslims  & Pakistan Army by using social media. Reportedly social media is also a easy passage to recruite pakistani youth for syria Jihad. But Nawaz government not interested or serious in to stop them.  

It is also important to mention here that the Nawaz government is not taking any single step to stop those takfiries  who spreading hate material against Shia/Suni Sufi Muslims & also against Pakistan Army by using social media. Reportedly social media is also a easy passage to recruit pakistani youth for syria Jihad. but Nwaz government not interested or serious in to stop them.