Teeth Maestro

Wiredpakistan.com blocked in Pakistan


WiredPakistan.com a technology blog and the forum run by KO for the past year has in a very astonishing development come under the censorship umbrella as per the directive issued by Network Operations Center at the Pakistan Internet Exchange.

A careful watch has been setup to monitor which ISP’s comply with this directive and as of the writing of this report only PTCL DSL subscribers are facing the block while others remain in the clear. We all remain astonished as to why an Innocent technology website has been a target of such censorship by the government of Pakistan

An email sent to various ISP identified the website as a blocked website

Subject: Re: Blocked IP
Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2008 15:06:47 +0500
From: NOC ITI
To: #########
CC: NOC ITI

Assalam-o-Alaikum

Dear Customer,

It is to apprise you that the following website has been blocked as per directive of PTA.
www.wiredpakistan.com

Best Regards,

[name removed]
Network Operations Center
Pakistan Internet Exchange
Voice : +92 21 2760066/2774258
Fax : +92 21 2751777
Email: noc@ptcl.net.pk
IP Services, 5th Floor Technical Block
Gateway Exchange Building, Marston Road
Karachi South, Pakistan
Web : http://www.pie.net.pk


While a traceroute from Worldcall Wireless shows it being blocked at the level of PIE

Tracing route to wiredpakistan.com [66.29.**.***] over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 251 ms 259 ms 259 ms 172.16.12.2
2 280 ms 260 ms 256 ms 172.16.12.1
3 254 ms 255 ms 259 ms host65.worldcall.net.pk [203.81.192.65]
4 257 ms 260 ms 261 ms cr01-g1-stm1-lhr-wc.worldcall.net.pk [203.81.192.1]
5 258 ms 260 ms 282 ms lhr63.pie.net.pk [202.125.147.41]
6 258 ms 259 ms 259 ms lhr63.pie.net.pk [202.125.138.135]
7 * * * Request timed out.

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Dr. Awab Alvi

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Comments

14 responses to “Wiredpakistan.com blocked in Pakistan”

  1. anonymous Avatar
    anonymous

    Yup! It was a good site and forum. Facing this problem too!

  2. :-/ Avatar
    :-/

    Working Prefectly here

  3. Shoiab Safdar Avatar
    Shoiab Safdar

    I have Access to it!!!
    Open absolutely!

  4. Kashif Avatar
    Kashif

    This may be an issue at ISP end. I can absolutely access it.

    http://www.wiredpakistan.com/forums/viewtopic.php?pid=33830

  5. Teeth Maestro Avatar
    Teeth Maestro

    Well – This much I can say an ISP confirms that PIE NOC has issued this notification – KO reports that it was inaccessible a day earlier as well, it remains mostly accessible but it seems that PTCL has implemented it but others are mostly routing it around.

    Why they did it? is as much of your guess as its mine. Could it be just a news distraction, as it makes no sense to attack a tech forum.

    I too can access it from MaxCom – but we have a few traceroutes (one attached above) showing its blocked. Lets hope most of us stay in the clear

  6. Naseem Avatar
    Naseem

    its is a very good site. i really liked it very much. thanks for providing such informatic news and updates.

    Naseem

  7. Raza Avatar
    Raza

    It’s still blocked alright (I’m using PTCL DSL btw). Not sure why though, seems strange WiredPakistan could pose any danger to anyone. Maybe it was a mistake or something, you can always bet our incompetent officials to mess things around.

  8. M@NI Avatar
    M@NI

    I CANT ACCESS IT. I am using Worldcall broadband cable and its not opening from lahore atleast. Can any one else confirm me if he/she using Worldcall.
    I just connected to my remote PC in US and it opens well from there, so its clearly showing the ISP’s in Pakistan are blocking this website. If this is the case, i dont understand where our govt wants to lead the youth. Now people will think of all negative ideas Ip hiding, bypassing proxies, going through fake servers, to access the website… They provide us themselves a chance to revolt and do bad things… This is really pathetic!!!

  9. Faisal.K Avatar
    Faisal.K

    i can access it, its not blocked.
    Maxcom rules.

  10. :-/ Avatar
    :-/

    lol that explains it I myself use maxcom :p

  11. Fareed Avatar
    Fareed

    I have been unable to access the website in Karachi using both Worldcall and Cybernet. It’s a sheer pity that this website is being blocked as it is contained a treasure chest of information.

  12. Saqib Avatar
    Saqib

    i Can Access it i m also using MaxCom
    MaxCom Rules
    Perfectly Working

  13. Teeth Maestro Avatar
    Teeth Maestro

    Just an update PTA has unblocked WiredPakistan.com after censoring the entire site for 11 days. KO has done some hard working contacting the ‘higher ups’ in this regard to get the screws turning

    Well done KO, did they give you the reason for the goof-up?

  14. Faisal Avatar
    Faisal

    I am surprised it's not opening. Any sane reason for blocking it ?