• July 9, 2024
• Social Media
• Web Desk

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) rejects the government’s response justifying the blanket ban on X, formerly Twitter. Even if the government’s concerns regarding national security and public safety have validity, they do not justify the complete closure of the platform without any clear timeline or process for when such a ban could be lifted. 

PPF calls on the authorities to hold meaningful engagements with stakeholders, including civil society organizations, before taking any decision on an issue affecting millions of Pakistani users. We also urge X to engage with Pakistani stakeholders, including the civil society and state authorities to address their concerns. 

Despite the government’s professed concerns that the block on X was due to “national interest,” it continues to be used by government officials, including the prime minister, via VPNs. PPF believes that every citizen should have the same access to digital platforms available to the country’s elite.

In a petition challenging the closure of X in Pakistan, the government submitted its response to the Sindh High Court (SHC) on July 8 on behalf of the Interior Ministry. According to the ministry, they were exercising their “legitimate powers and role to ensure the rule of law” and claimed they had not violated any fundamental right of citizens as provided by the Constitution. 

The Interior Ministry stated the ban on X was a “necessary step” and taken with “due regard for the rule of law and the principles of democratic governance.”

The ministry argued that the ban did not violate Article 19 of the Constitution and was implemented to address national security and public safety concerns. The ministry also noted that X had repeatedly been requested to cooperate but had “exhibited reluctance” to do so. The ministry urged the court to dismiss the petition challenging the ban on X for the “sake of national interest” and “to avoid any irreparable loss to national interest.”

Following the general elections, X users in Pakistan faced disruption in accessing the social media platform on February 17. The ban on X was challenged in multiple courts in Pakistan, including the SHC. Nearly five months later, that disruption continues. 

Initially, neither the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) nor the government immediately provided any explanation for the suspension of access to X. In fact, upon forming the government, the PML-N provided varying statements on the disruption, including Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, stating that it was working. The information minister later stated that X had already been blocked when they came to power. The PTA also told the SHC that the social media platform had been banned on the interior minister’s orders based on a report by intelligence agencies. On April 17, X Global Government Affairs said it continued to work with the Pakistani Government to understand their concerns. 

Civil society organizations in Pakistan have demanded that X be restored and expressed grave concerns about the escalating occurrence of internet shutdowns and blocking of social media platforms.