Blocking access to Baloch websites by PTA strongly condemned

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) blocked access to Baloch Nationalist and other websites in Pakistan.

Balochvoice strongly condemns blocking of Baloch and other websites in Pakistan, this is proof of State control over print, electronic and other media sources.

It is worth mentioning, on one hand Musharraf and other authorities endlessly keep on repeating that, electronic and print media is unregulated, freedom of speech and democracy is restored in Pakistan. But on the other hand let alone the print media in Pakistan, even the electronic media, websites and other means of communications are under strict State control.

Blocking access to Balochvoice and other websites in Pakistan is a solid proof of such restrictions and state control over print and electronic media.

Blocking access to websites shows, how the hysterical Punjabi Pakistan is trying to controls and feed filtered information to its people to keep them in the dark, which is impossible for it to achieve in this 21st century.

Now thanks to information technology the truth cannot be hidden. Such act only shows the real face of Musharraf and unmasks the false claims made about Democracy, freedom of speech and freedom of press.

This should be an eye opener for the international community to see how suppressed the Baloch people are in this totalitarian and oppressive Punjabi dominated Pakistan. 

Balochvoice requests the international community and the international media to raise Baloch issue on the international level. Baloch are constantly living under the threat and fear of being subjugated, Baloch concern and their voices have always been suppressed and that’s why it was not being heard by the international community.

Balochvoice appeals to the international media, political and humanitarian organizations to intervene and raise the Baloch issue on the international level to bring a stop to this oppressive and dictatorial Pakistani State. Baloch people have been dominated, exploited and slaughtered by this tyrant Pakistan for more then half a century.

Balochvoice takes the opportunity to thank Reporters Without Borders (RSF) for condemning the decision by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on 25 April 2006 to block four Baloch nationalist websites and bringing this matter to the attention of the media.

As Reporters Without Borders (RSF) put it in their report on 28 April 2006 “Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) block four Baloch nationalist websites for carrying “misleading information.”

“Only a judge should be able to order the filtering of an online publication,” the press freedom organisation said. “The PTA should not have this power, as it is an administrative entity directly linked to the government.”

And further says, “The four Baloch sites are http://www.balochvoice.com (which carries news about the fighting in Balochistan as well as international media reports), http://www.baloch2000.org and http://www.balochfront.com (which support the Baloch nationalists), and http://www.sanabaloch.com (a Baloch politician's site).”

Now it is for you to see what “misleading information” is on these sites or the truth is, Pakistan cannot stand “The Truth”.

In another incidence of suppression, Munir Mengal, Managing Director of Baloch-language TV station Baloch Voice, who disappeared on arriving in Karachi on 7 April 2006. He was kidnapped by military intelligence officers at the airport. It’s been more then a month that his ware bouts are not known.

The most alarming aspect is that this is not an isolated case, many students, intellectuals, political activists, teachers, doctors and people from all spheres of life have gone missing but especially the situation has worsened since the Army Dictator General Musharraf’s reign. Press release By Balochvoice.com 16.5.06