Sindh Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui has warned the internet cafe owners that they are allowed cabin partitions in their cafes up to the height of 4.5 feet only. These should be open cabins and covered ones will not be allowed, the minister said. Rauf Siddiqui said that he had been continuously receiving complaints that the internet cafes were so designed that these had totally covered cabins wherein videos were taken of the people inside with the help of cameras which was totally an illegal and immoral act.
Such complaints were causing problems of serious nature leading to creation of moral declination in society, while the fact was that a constructive and positive use of internet did serve as a source for a lot of youth in building up their academic career.
The minister gave one week time to the owners of internet cafes to modify the cafe designs as per standard rules. He said that after one week from May 23, all DPOs and TPOs would check the internet cafes in their respective areas. In case of default, not only strict legal action would be taken against such owners but the punishment would include sealing of their cafes.
And the government realizes they must take this step now, almost a year after the infamous Rawalpindi cyber cafe incident?
3 comments:
atleast they realized. lets see when that "23rd May" comes...hope not after another year.
This news is a surprise. And my first reaction is: what's the incentive for cybercafe wallas in such a scheme other than danday ka zor? This could have been framed in a way to appeal to cybercafe owners, who have loyal customers interested in 'private' surfing. For instance, gov could talk to a few private companies interested in sponsoring 'open' culture cafes. One or two good examples could at least encourage more replications, if not just a complete overhaul of the existing network--thats just unrealistic for now.
They keep telling but no one really means it. No?
And Zunaira, nice seeing you here after such a long time. How are you and how are things in Islamabad, or am I too behind to catch up?
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