Pakistan TV host Waqar Zaka has challenged the PlayerUnknown’s Battleground or PUBG ban in Pakistan at the Sindh High Court calling the decision unjust and a violation of fundamental rights.
The ban was imposed on July 1 after the PTA received “numerous complaints against PUBG wherein it is stated that the game is addictive, wastage of time and poses a serious negative impact on the physical and psychological health of children”.
“PTA has received numerous complaints against PUBG wherein it is stated that the game is addictive, wastage of time and poses serious negative impact on physical and psychological health of the children,” a statement of the authority said. It added that cases of suicide attributed to the game have also been reported recently.
Waqar Zaka took to social media to express his outrage as well as ‘expose’ some shady conspiracy theories behind the ban. According to the YouTuber, the ban on PUBG is to prevent Pakistani youth from excelling in e-sports.
He argues in his petition that the main reason behind suicide is depression which is the result of societal pressure as well as solitude but linking a multiplayer game like PUBG where a player gets to “communicate and feel” along with others while sitting alone is unjustifiable by any means.
He makes the point regarding suicide by teens on obtaining bad grades after immense pressure from parents and institutions but we don’t see them getting closed since it is not the answer or the solution.
Last week, Senior Superintendent of Police (Administration) Liaqat Ali Malik sent a letter to the IGP on the difficulty. He acknowledged that a youth, Mohammad Zakarya, son of Khawaja Sohail, a resident of Henjerwal, had committed suicide by hanging himself on Midsummer Eve after he missed the ‘mission’ assigned to him while playing the PUBG. A mobile was found on a bed near the body with the PUBG game running.
On June 20, a 20-year-old student of the second year at the FC College University had also reportedly committed suicide after being scolded by his family for enjoying the PUBG. The victim, identified as Jonty Joseph, lived in the North Cantonment area. His father reportedly reprimanded him for enjoying the web game for an extended period. The youth locked himself during a room. the subsequent day when he didn’t open the door, the family broke it and located him hanged.
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