On November 24, the Lahore High Court disposed of several petitions challenging the ban on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) after confirming that access to the platform had been restored across Pakistan. The court also referred the issue of slow internet speeds to the federal law secretary for legislative action.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Aalia Neelum heard the petitions filed by social media activists through Advocate Azhar Siddique. During the proceedings, the bench observed that the matter concerning X no longer required adjudication since the platform’s accessibility had been reinstated.

The bench noted that slow internet performance remained an unresolved national matter requiring detailed examination. It stated that the issue called for an appropriate legal mechanism and directed the ministries of law and information technology to review the matter. The ministries were instructed to file progress reports with the registrar’s office every two weeks.

Petitioners had argued that government restrictions on social media conflicted with constitutional protections, submitting that the state could not impose curbs on citizens’ fundamental rights.

Access to X was restored on May 13, when users began reporting that the platform had become available without virtual private networks or proxy tools. The platform had remained inaccessible without a VPN since February 17, 2024, following allegations of rigging during the February 8 general elections. The shutdown of X was challenged in multiple courts, including the Sindh High Court, Lahore High Court and Islamabad High Court.