Zardari Bans Jokes Ridiculing Him, Gets Ridiculed

Zardari Bans Jokes Ridiculing Him, Gets Ridiculed

Under Pakistan's new Cyber Crimes Act, anyone who sends an insult or joke "slander[s] the political leadership of the country" through text, email, blog or any other electronic transmission, now risks being sentenced to up to 14 years in prison, the Telegraph reports:

The step, which was described by human rights groups as "draconian and authoritarian", came after government was particularly riled by a barrage of caustic jokes being sent to the presidency's official email.

Critics have accused the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP), a party that espouses a liberal agenda, of stooping as low as the former military ruler, Pervez Musharraf, who took television broadcasters off air when he faced political opposition.

Given Zardari's history as a corrupt, incompetent philanderer, it is no surprise that he receives a fair amount of ridicule; nor is it surprising that he now wishes to clamp down on it. Prior to the threat of prison, according to the Telegraph, Zardari's government attempted to tax insulting messages, prompting an exchange of texts ridiculing him further.

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