Blasphemous content: Court resents IT Ministry over delay in law amendment
- By Web Desk -
- Mar 27, 2017
ISLAMABAD: Federal Secretary of Interior apprised Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday about implementation of the court orders during hearing of the blasphemous content case, ARY News reported.
Director General Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Inspector General Police also appeared before the court.
The bench, during the hearing, held the ministry of information technology responsible for the slow progress of the case.
“Minister of State for Information and Technology Anusha Rehman seemed reluctant to make possible amendments in Information Technology Act”, Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui remarked.
Federal secretary of interior Arif Khan apprised the bench that implementation of the court’s orders was underway and arrests have been made.
“FIA has arrested three suspects and two of them have pleaded guilty to blasphemy allegations”, he added.
The secretary further said that a joint investigation team (JIT) has been formed to probe into the matter.
Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui adjourned the hearing till March 31 by urging officials to lodge immediate FIRs on receiving complaints.
Suspects remanded
On March 24, three people were produced before the Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) here, facing a charge of uploading blasphemous content on the internet.
The court granted seven-day remand of the suspects after hearing the case and handed over the accused to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
FIA in collaboration of Intelligence agencies had arrested two suspects from Karachi in connection with blasphemy allegations.
Earlier, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had directed immediate blockade of sources spreading blasphemous content by stating that it was hurting sentiments of the entire Muslim Ummah.
Recently, the issue has gained attention of the government. Punjab Assembly had adopted a motion against blasphemous content on social media last week while Islamabad High Court in a recent hearing had suggested a ban on social media over the presence of the the content that hurt sentiments.