Amnesty International has called on Pakistani authorities toimmediately release eight people arrested by the Federal InvestigationAgency (FIA) for “criticizing the state” on Twitter.
Danoshika Dsanike, director of the South Asian rights group HumanRights Watch, called on Pakistani authorities to stop using theDraconian Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PICA) to punish those whouse only online freedom of expression.
He pointed out that governments have long used the law as a weapon tocrush peaceful dissent and intimidate supporters of politicalopposition parties.
