Outrage over Skype and WhatsApp ban in Sindh

A number of social media have reportedly expressed concern and outrage over Pakistan government's alleged ban on online communication networks like Skype, Viber and WhatsApp in Sindh province for three months over terrorism threat.

The users have condemned the proposal and argued that it was a infringement of personal freedom and impede small businesses and entrepreneurs from working effectively.

One Twitter user, Umer Pirzada posted that the ban on the social media networks is like a cyber-drone attack from the government, while another critic's post read as, 'this is when you know the country has gone down the drain', next it will be blocking oxygen?'.

According to the BBC, the proposal needs to be approved by the central government before it is implemented and so far no decision has been taken.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has said that he was not in favour of such a move but will go through the application to see how much weight it carries.

However, senior Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has talked in favour of the move and said that it was necessary to 'catch some terrorists and save some lives'.

The report said that Sindh has been plagued by serious militant, sectarian and criminal violence throughout 2013, but tech experts have pointed out that imposing the proposed bans may do no good as they could be easily exploited by criminals.