LAHORE, Oct 18: The Lahore High Court directed on Thursday the federal government to block access to blasphemous material available on internet.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan issued this order on a petition filed by the Jamaat-i-Islami and also sought a detailed reply from the government by Nov 8.

The JI filed the petition through its secretary-general, Liaquat Baloch, and deputy secretary Dr Farid Piracha. They sought a complete ban on blasphemous material available on internet.

Another judge, Justice Sagheer Ahmad Qadri, admitted for regular hearing a similar petition filed by Jamatud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed.

The judge sought a reply from the federal government.

In his petition, Hafiz Saeed also sought a direction for the government to move the International Court of Justice against the makers of a blasphemous movie and ensure punishment of culprits.

He pleaded that the relationship of ‘absolute servility’ between Pakistan and the US should be declared contrary to fundamental rights of “dignity of man” enshrined in Article 14 of the Constitution.