Sindh High Court (SHC) has banned popular video sharing app TikTok over spreading vulgarity by celebrating LGBT-Pride Month.
As per details, TikTok – a widely popular Chinese video sharing application, has been banned for the third time in Pakistan over spreading vulgarity and content that is against the principles of Islam as well as Pakistani law, culture, traditions and social norms.
TikTok recently started social media campaign celebrating ‘LGBT-Pride Month’ which was in violation of Pakistani law and basic injunctions of Islam and culture of Pakistan, said the court.
The court argued that TikTok had not abided by “the constant undertakings and assurances” given by it before various courts and the PTA to block accounts spreading vulgarity.
The court has directed an immediate ban on TikTok across the country. The ban will remain in place till July 8th until the next hearing.
Separately, an application has been filed by Ali Zeb in Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) seeking ban on TikTok.
The petition contends that TikTok was promoting crime, with people using drugs and weapons and uploading videos, while the use of TikTok in educational institutions was leading to a bad environment for the students.
Not only the content being circulated on TikTok is against Islamic laws and principles. Furthermore, people are making recordings of endeavors like an attempt of suicide to get views on TikTok, said the petition.
It is pertinent to know that previously TikTok has been banned on two separate occasions in Pakistan. The government had revoked ban on TikTok in April earlier this year after Peshawar High Court (PHC) had banned the video sharing platform.
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The first time TikTok was banned in Pakistan was back in October 9th 2020 last year when PTA had banned the video sharing platform across Pakistan on over circulation of immoral and indecent content.
However, the ban was lifted on October 19th 2020 after successful negotiations between Pakistani authorities and TikTok management over removal of objectionable content and relevant censorship.
TikTok’s Under ‘Spotlight’ In Pakistan
TikTok has faced significant opposition, criticism from various sections of Pakistani society who have accused the popular Chinese owned app of promoting vulgarity, indecency and content that contradicts traditional values and ethics.
Pertaining to public’s overwhelming opposition, PTA had banned TikTok last year.
“In view of number of complaints from different segments of the society against immoral/indecent content on the video sharing application TikTok, PTA has issued instructions for blocking of the application,” read the official press-release issued by the regulatory authority.
The ban had revived mixed responses, with some praising and supporting PTA’s ban while some criticizing it and demanded for a much efficient and extensive ‘censorship’ and establishment of filter mechanism to neutralize the immoral content being circulated and propagated.
