Blasphemous caricatures: LHC directs federal government to lodge official protest with US

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed federal government to lodge official protest with US over the issue of holding a competition of blasphemous caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on Facebook. In the detailed order pertaining to blocking access to Facebook in Pakistan, the court further directed Ministry of Foreign Affairs to submit the copy of official protest in the court.
In case the protest is not lodged with US, the minister for foreign affairs would have to personally appear before the court by May 31 to explain why the court orders had not been complied in letter and spirit. The court further pointed out that Pakistani government, while lodging protest should state that, "As per laws of commerce and business, Facebook is governed by legal jurisdiction of the US and this social networking website is responsible for hurting feelings and causing discomfort to the majority of Muslim population of Pakistan.
"Facebook has deliberately or recklessly has not taken effective measures for preventing, stopping or blocking blasphemous contest to which it has complete and autonomous authority and had already built-in mechanism to block such profane misbehaviour or misconduct. These mechanisms have either been deliberately or recklessly not administered for preventing, stopping or blocking this blasphemous contest taking place on Facebook.
"The announcement of this very blasphemous contest has caused an immense furore and enraged millions of Muslims of Pakistan and around the globe, who attach an immense sanctity to the holy status granted to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)", the court asked the federal government to mention these things in official protest. On Wednesday the court had imposed a complete ban on Facebook in Pakistan till May 31.
The court had passed order in the writ petition filed by Islamic Lawyers' Movement after the website announced to hold a competition of drawing blasphemous caricatures of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The court also directed Foreign Ministry of Pakistan to raise the issue at international level.