Fatima Bhutto, niece of the slain former premier Benazir Bhutto, fears that she could be liable for prosecution for her writings criticising the government, under the ‘prevention of electronic crimes ordinance’ introduced in the shape of a bill before the parliament recently.
Writing in the Guardian on Thursday, Miss Bhutto said Pakistan’s ‘so-called democratic government’ had introduced the bill “to censor our already frightened media”.
According to the bill, she said, anyone found guilty of “cyber terrorism” — an undefined crime — is liable to face the death penalty.
She asserted that the government’s vague bill threatened anyone guilty of “spoofing” or “spamming” or the “character assassination” of any member of state with prison sentences.
“Any of the articles I’ve written critical of my country’s role in the war on terror or questioning the corruption of the state could constitute “spoofing” (the bill doesn’t elaborate on whether it is satire that the PPP government is fundamentally opposed to or simply jolly fun-making).
“The bill is an escalation of intimidation from the state. In Oct 2008 the government announced that the terrorism wing of the country’s Federal Investigation Authority would be tasked with hunting down the “anti-democratic” forces that were circulating YouTube videos and text messages aimed at discrediting the ruling party’s politicians.
“Because the press is muzzled, no voices were raised in protest at the announcement that text messages had become treasonous devices in Pakistan. So now we have an actual law about to be put into place, farcically silencing those of us who are not afraid to speak. I’m almost certain I’ve assassinated some characters in the process of being a journalist — Pakistan is, at present, the only country in the world run by two former criminals.”
She said that “another odious bill, the National Reconciliation Ordinance, already passed in parliament had cleared Pakistan’s politicians of 20 years’ worth of corruption cases against them and includes a stipulation that would make it virtually impossible to file charges of misconduct against any sitting parliamentarian. “The NRO was used to clear Pakistan’s ruling party members of other crimes, surpassing our already crippled judiciary, and placing those in power above the law. Criticism of the NRO was unsurprisingly muted in the Pakistani press. Did you know that these 403 words could land me a jail sentence? I’ve spoofed, I’ve defamed, and I’ve disseminated, all deadly crimes.”
@AAM
I think there is a smear campaign against Fatima. Obviously Dantari is seeing her as a threat!
I don’t know whether the story about Clooney is true or not, but initial thought is that it is Dantari product and I wouldn’t lay too much in it.
Mr. mansoori
The way you wrote about Fatima was very cheap. She is not a model or actress, she is a respectable lady. Just watch your language. Nothing is proved so for. It’s just papparazi………
Admin I just referred the sites I did not cook up the story at my end.
I am astonished to see that the young and well educated people of Pakistan are so dumb..judging Miss Fatma Bhutto from the ill, fake and dirty propeganda on net…Miss fatima Bhutto is the most well educated,respectfull and one of the only hope of the People of Pakistan besides Imran Khan…and as usual our dirty and corrupt politiians will do anything to defame them…and unfortunately even our young and educated people are saying things against such respected people which is very sad and worrying…
check this out.
http://a-list.msn.com/default.aspx?cp-searchtext=Fatima%20Bhutto
I think Zardar & Company launched a campaign against Ms. Fatima Bhutto because renamed “Bhutto Zardari Family” has a clear threat from her for their political futrue. They are adopting dirty politics like PML-N and MQM did against Imran Khan in 1996-07 and 2007 . She is a beautiful and educated girl and if someone like her is not her fault and even if they are friends whats wrong with it. We should not forget BB had also many friends in the west. She does not claim to be a Pardadar Khatoon. Moreover what about the attrocities and affairs of Zardar & Company I can mention many of that but I will surely not publicize anyone’s personal affairs.
well I guess, I shall be arrested as I land, since I ridicule Zardari on Facebook
We should not be impressed or carried away by the Bhuttos or their clan. The story of Fatima Bhutto was revealed not by pakistani media but by American paper. This lady is also a greedy woman and she also wants her share of limelight and politics and thats why her vengence is so much against PPP.
As Pakistanis we should look to those people who live in Pakistan rather than these guys who are enjoying their life in the West and then come home to cash on the popularity of their anscesters and treat awam as their Muzzaras.
Fatima Bhutto has YET TO DENY HER RELATIONSHIP WITH GEORGE CLONNEY EVEN AFTER THREE DAYS.
If she can write an article in Guardian she can very well release a press statement denying her relationship with George Clooney.
We should never let this woman come and rule us
Please dont think that I am supporting Zardari in anyway. I feel he is the biggest theif in Pakisatn and if he doesnt restore CJ Iftikhar then the time is not that far that Taliban would be at his door and we would love to see him dragged through that Presidency which he bought by cash through bribing MNAs, Senators, MPAs and army generals and hanged in front of Parlaimanet which he does not want to be powerful.
He is the biggest blackmark on the face of Pakistan. Once he is gone , NRO should be repelased and all cases should be revivied and also people like Naik, Rehman Malik and Dogar should be tried under Article 6 for cheating Pakistani people.
wbuttar
we do mind what fatima bhutto befriends if she wants to be in politics. We are not beghaiarat that Westerers are dating our women and then we are crowning those ladies with powerful positions in Pakistan. Benazir case was different. She had proved through her character that she was a true Muslim lady ONCE SHE WAS IN POLITICS. Not a single scandel came about her ONCE SHE ENTERED POLITICS.
Fatima Bhutto is in politics so she better be careful. What has happened to Pakistani nation – We make a theif our President and now we want to make a woman who is flirting with a gora and non muslim to lead us in future. Shame on us. So what if she is beautiful. That is no reason for her being spared. Flirting with a non-muslim (even with muslim is not acceptable) is outrageous.
we should be proud that we are muslims and at least we should have some basic ethics.
farman
What evidence do you have that she is not doing what is on the net. If that is not true why isnt she denying it.
Being educated at Columbia or whereever doesnt make you superior. George Bush had done MBA from Harvard and you can see what he did to the world.
Fatima Bhutto is nothing but a greedy woman and wants her share in politics and that is what is playing now. So I would advise you not to be carried away by her articles – this is a family fued and not about Pakistani or Sindhi.
Tell me what has Bhutto clan done for Sindh. Nothing. The Haris are still slaves there and treated as such. There is no real infrastructure development in interior Sindh. For a change why doesnt Fatima try to do something about education or health in Pakistan rather than sitting in cosy drawing rooms and writing articles in English papers.
Imran Khan whatever he may be has DONE SOMETHING FOR PAKSITAN – he has given something to Pakistan – but this snobbish lady has done nothing for Pakistan except writing articles.
@ c hussain
You have right to oppose any politician and political thought but let me say that there were a dozens of Bhutoo’s after ZA Bhutto but there was only one Benazir.
This name Bhutto has attraction for poor pakistanis and people like Mumtaz Bhutto and even Murtaza Bhutto were never able to secure support and trust of millions of Pakistanis as did Benazir Bhutto. This trust and support comes when you prepare yourself to fight against the status quo and its guardian establishment.
Murtaza Bhutto did that but his way of doing was a bit non political though he was never involved in high jacking or any thing ( that was Zia’s own plot) but still Benazir’s way of political and long war against the system that was more popular and respected.
Benazir for example was big supporter of provincial autonomy and for smaller nations in Pakistan but still apro federation leader who was popular in all four provinces. She was strongly in favor of peace with India still a great supporter of Kashmir struggle ( she was against armed / mujahedin but in political struggle like Maqbool But not like Maulana Azher etc)
Fatima Bhutto is still young but she most realize if she wants to be a leader she must organize her party and reach out to people.
As far as her personal life was concerned she must be careful as unfortunately there are hawks sitting in our agencies who ex polite such stories against Bhutto’s while their favorite Generals and politicians spend their nights in night clubs or rather they turn their official residences in to a night club or a pub.
farman_ak said:I am astonished to see that the young and well educated people of Pakistan are so dumb..judging Miss Fatma Bhutto from the il. lMiss fatima Bhutto is the most well educated, respectfull and one of the only hope of the People of Pakistan ………………………….
Oh Boy! Too heavy to bear such praising words.
Dara – I agree with you but remember that Benazir earned this through hard way – her father was assassinated – she went to jail and suffered there and then went in exile and in all her political life of more than 30 years she could get PM job of only 4 and a half years. So what does Fatima expect – enjoy George Clooney and write few articles in western press – and then come along and be elected to National Assembly and become PM just because she is Murtaza’s daughter and she is beautiful. Is that the criteria of selection of our leaders. Come on give it a break.
She cannot have both – have boyfriends and then also make a fool of downtrodden people of Pakistan and cash on that. If she wants to get something out of politics she needs to come to PAKISTAN, LIVE HERE AND WORK FOR THE PEOPLE AND THEN TRY HER LUCK. We have heard about absentee landlordism but this is new – absentee parliamentarian.
Anyway Taliban are coming soon – unless they restore Iftikhar Chaudhry and assure Pakistani people that they can get real justice – and there is no role for Fatima Bhutto in Pakistan – forget it.
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