Beyond WTF'ness

It would seem that in Pakistan, there is nothing you need to watch out for more than making a joke about President Asif Ali Zardari by SMS (Short Messaging Service).

If you mistakenly, or just for fun, share with a friend one of the hundreds of derisory jokes about the leader floating around electronically, you could get a 14-year prison sentence.

Pakistan’s interior minister Rehman Malik announced last week that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has been tasked to trace SMS (or text messages) and e-mails that “slander the political leadership of the country” under the vague Cyber Crimes Act. In addition to facing up to 14 years in the jail, violators could have their property seized, Malik said, adding that the government would seek Interpol assistance in deporting foreign offenders.

Seriously man! Is this even a priority for someone who is the president of a country leave alone being one to country so fucked up as Pakistan but then maybe since he is the President of Pakistan, hence explains this WTF'ness.

I'd love to be the interpol agent who would be given the task of apprehending those foreigners who forward those silly forwards.