The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) has ordered telecom operators to block 100 websites allegedly spreading hate speech and misinformation.
The PTA said in a statement that the websites were blocked after a review by a committee of experts. The committee found that the websites were spreading hate speech against different religious and ethnic groups and misinformation about the government and its policies.
The PTA said that the blocking of the websites was necessary to protect the public from harm. It said that the websites used to incite violence and hatred and that they also used to spread false information.
The PTA said that it would continue to monitor the websites and take action if they found to be spreading hate speech or misinformation.
The blocking of the websites has met with mixed reactions. Some people have welcomed the move, saying it is necessary to protect the public from harm. Others have criticized the move, saying that it is a violation of freedom of speech.
The PTA has said it has committed to protecting the public from harm and respects freedom of speech. It said that blocking the websites was a necessary measure to protect the public but that it would not block websites expressing dissenting views.
The PTA has also said that it would review the blocking of the websites regularly and lift the blocks if it found that the websites no longer spreading hate speech or misinformation.
 has ordered telecom operators to block 100 websites allegedly spreading){kind=link}