Pakistan calls for Facebook meeting over blasphemy posts

Facebook is sending a team to Pakistan to discuss "blasphemous content" posted on the social network, according to the country's interior ministry.

Pakistan requested a meeting with Mark Zuckerberg's company after concerns over such posts, a sensitive and explosive issue in the country.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has backed a thorough crackdown, calling blasphemy an "unpardonable offence" on his party's official Twitter account this week.

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Interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan added he would take "any steps necessary" to make sure Pakistan's message got across. "Facebook and other service providers should share all information about the people behind this blasphemous content with us," he told Dawn newspaper.

However, critics warn there might be a more sinister motive behind the moves, saying Pakistan's blasphemy legislation, which allows for the death penalty, is often abused to oppress minorities, reports the BBC.

"Digital rights groups have expressed 'serious reservations' and have called such steps 'playing with the lives of innocent people'," says BBC Urdu social media editor Tahir Imran.

Campaigners have also criticised Facebook "for colluding with authorities and censoring content infringing freedom of expression".

The social network giant has not yet made any public comment about a delegation being sent to Pakistan.

Meanwhile, local media claims at least 11 people allegedly involved in uploading and sharing "objectionable material", have been identified and are being questioned.