Pakistani high court dismisses ban on WikiLeaks

[Turborama]

Source: Gulf News

By Mohsin Ali, Correspondent | Published: 00:00 December 4, 2010 -

Islamabad: A Pakistani high court on Friday dismissed a petition seeking ban on access to WikiLeaks website in the country, saying the plea was not maintainable.

Justice Amat Saeed of the Lahore High Court heard the petition filed by advocate Arif Gondal who pleaded that the release of secret information by WikiLeaks was a conspiracy to create a rift among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and other Muslim and Western countries.

During the hearing the judge reportedly said the website was operative in countries across the world and could not be blocked in Pakistan.

The court decision came as the media in the country continued to highlight and debate the implications of the leak of sensitive US diplomatic cables, particularly the damaging contents related to Pakistani top personalities, civil- military relations and clout of American diplomats in domestic politics.

Read more: http://gulfnews.com/news/world/pakistan/pakistan-court-dismisses-ban-on-wikileaks-1.722707

[fasttense]

1. And yet we here in America who have so many "freedoms"

get to watch our government and corporations shut down access to Wikileaks. From Pay Pal to Amazon, our corporate masters are ensuring our freedoms are less than the citizens of Pakistan.

[No Elephants]

2. While the US government pretends it can legally bar its employees from public info, on

the ground it's still classified. What a joke.

[kpete]

3. Plea to ban WikiLeaks in Pakistan dismissed (The judge said nothing is greater than the truth)

Source: The Nation

Plea to ban WikiLeaks in Pakistan dismissed
By: Sajid Zia | Published: December 04, 2010


LAHORE – Observing that access to facts and the truth cannot be denied to the citizens of Pakistan, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed of the Lahore High Court Friday in limine dismissed a petition which prayed for a ban on the publication, printing and broadcast of the WikiLeaks reports on Pakistan.

The judge said nothing is greater than the truth and what WikiLeaks reports published now, our media had been revealing to the masses far ago. The petition has been filed by one Arif Gondal contending that the WikiLeaks cables about Pakistan and the Islamic states were aimed at creating tensions and souring ties between these countries. He also contends that the reports not only purported to malign Pakistani leadership but also the military as such they merit ban on their publication and broadcast in any manner in Pakistan. The judge asked of the petitioner about the reports that what nature they are? The petitioner said they have been released by a journalist. The court said no, they are reports on the communications by the US diplomats. The court asked the petitioner if he was affected by these reports as if they are directed to him? He said no adding but are quite controversial ones as such they need not to be made public. The judge said the reports are based on facts and the truth, however it is otherwise that “baat to such hey magar bat hey ruswai ki.”

The judge said nothing is greater than the truth and asked if this court or anyone sitting in the courtroom or even the petitioner has been affected by these reports? And the petitioner replied in negative, However, he said that the objective of the same seems an attempt to create instability in the country. He said almost the whole material in the reports is against the Islamic states wherein they have brought about a storm and commotion and are being termed as another 9/11. The judge said on it that the court cannot restrain 178 states in the world from publication of the reports then to what effect and use of placing restrictions on its publication in Pakistan? The judges asked the petitioner that did he believe that Pakistanis do not deserve to hear the truth and facts? The court remarked it was the 21st century when people could not be kept aloof of the truth and in the dark.

Read more: http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Regional/Lahore/04-Dec-2010/Plea-to-ban-WikiLeaks-in-Pakistan-dismissed

[kgnu_fan]

4. Take note.

[Frisbee]

5. I'd like to see that judge on the SCOTUS.

[hlthe2b]

6. Irony beyond irony....

:shrug:

[kgnu_fan]

8. Hard to believe but everything becomes its opposite without conscious awakening

USA is upside down and inside out....while its people sound asleep

[ck4829]

7. Same nation that has a woman on death row because she insulted Muhammad based on hearsay

It's good that they realize that it's the 21st century, maybe they could do it for that case too.

K&R because there is a bit of hope though.

[kgnu_fan]

9. People with less freedom have to pay higher price -- we take it for granted what we have

[lunatica]

10. Everyone is busy trying to close the barn door now that their lies are out

What a scramble we're witnessing!