ISLAMABAD, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister (PM) Raja Pervez Ashraf Monday ordered the authorities to block the services of YouTube with immediate effect for posting anti-Islam movie, the PM office said.
The direction has been given after YouTube refused to heed to the advice of the government of Pakistan to remove blasphemous film from its site, a statement from the PM office said.
The prime minister said that blasphemous material would not be tolerated and the services of YouTube would remain suspended till removal of blasphemous material, it said
"Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has taken cognizance of blasphemous film available on YouTube and has issued strict instructions to Ministry of Information Technology to block the services of YouTube with immediate effect," the statement said.
Interior Minister, Rehman Malik, on Monday said that Pakistan will cancel visas of the employees of Google in Pakistan if the blasphemous film was not removed.
Talking to reporters in Islamabad after meeting with a delegation of religious leaders, he said that the government has blocked thousands of anti-Islam websites.
"I warn the Google administration to immediately close all anti- Islam links," Malik said.
He said that he has also sent a letter to the Interpol chief to take notice of the anti-Islam movie. He said a letter will also be sent to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to chalk out a policy to counter efforts against Islam.
Earlier the Supreme Court ordered the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to block all links to the anti- Islam movie.
The court was informed that some 800 links to the film on YouTube that has triggered anti-U.S. protests across the Muslim world including Pakistan have been blocked.
Protest rallies against the film continued in Pakistan on Monday and one person was killed in police firing in northwestern Dir district. Demonstrators burnt U.S. flag and effigy of President Barack Obama in several places.
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