Facebook has removed 85% of blasphemous content: Pak minister – Meanwhile, three arrests were made during the course of the online blasphemy probe, out of which two people were directly involved in posting blasphemous content, he stated.
Social networking site, Facebook which long has been facing difficulty with Pakistan over removal of blasphemous content, has deleted up to 85 per cent of such material at Pakistan’s request, Pakistan Interior Secretary Arif Khan informed the Islamabad High Court on Monday.
Khan in his report said that Facebook had responded to their letter and showed its willingness to remove content deemed blasphemous, reported the Dawn. “The federal government has taken ambassadors of 27 Muslim countries on board in connection with the issue,” he added.
Meanwhile, three arrests were made during the course of the online blasphemy probe, out of which two people were directly involved in posting blasphemous content, he stated.
He further stated that the law enforcers have found blasphemous content from the suspects laptops and mobile devices and that a joint interrogation team has been constituted to probe into the matter.
Making a point that banning Facebook is not the solution of the problem, Khan said, “Our embassy in Washington has also taken up the matter [with the US government].”
“A team comprising 25 members, has been working to search blasphemous content online. The authority have so far taken action against 40 such pages,” Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Ismael Shah said.
He said that the Facebook administration has realised the issue and “assured to comply with our demand”.
The court has adjourned the hearing till March 31 and ordered concerned departments of the government to submit a report.
The government had approached Facebook earlier this month regarding access to the records of three controversial pages accused of spreading blasphemous content.
Facebook in its reply had said that it is aware of the government’s reservations and it wants to resolve the issue via bilateral dialogue and mutual understanding.
Facebook management had also decided to send a delegation to Pakistan for investigating content which the government considers to be blasphemous, Dawn reported.
