Social media pages depicting Imran as Hindu god blocked

ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary committee was informed during a meeting on Friday that several social media pages depicting PTI chief Imran Khan as Hindu deity, Lord Shiva, have been blocked by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

The revelation surfaced during a meeting of a sub-committee of the Standing Committee on Government Assurances, chaired by MNA Dr Fouzia Hameed. Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officers said the PTA identified 17 websites containing the image and blocked most of them.

The issue was referred to sub-committee by the main committee on the complaint of MNAs Ramesh Lal and Lal Chand Malhi. Both attended the meeting of sub-committee and expressed satisfaction over the progress made in the case.

In April, a photograph depicting Khan as a Hindu

god had triggered a debate in the Parliament. The issue was raised by Hindu legislators in the National Assembly, following which the Interior Ministry was directed to check the circulation of the photograph on social media and nab those behind it.

National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq took up the matter with the Interior Ministry after protest by Hindu legislators over hate speeches and social media campaigns being carried out using the photograph.

The picture of a Hindu deity, with Imran Khan’s face superimposed on it, was submitted before the Assembly by legislator Ramesh Lal. Calling for legal action, the legislators asked the speaker to initiate a probe into the matter.

PTI vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi was reported as saying that the campaign was being carried out by some party’s social media wing.