The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued a statement indicating that access to Wikipedia may be blocked in Pakistan if the platform fails to remove content deemed sacrilegious within 2 days.
The authority cites non-compliance with previous instructions to remove unlawful material as the reason for the recent deterioration of Wikipedia services.
If the material in question is not removed, the authority has stated that Wikipedia will be blocked within Pakistan, although it did not specify the information it wants to be removed.
The issue of blasphemy is sensitive in Pakistan, where laws provide for the death penalty for anyone convicted of affronting Islam.
The CEO of internet service provider Nayatel, Wahaj-us-Siraj, has commented that the slow response to the authority’s request will particularly affect those who use Wikipedia for education and information purposes.
