17/04/2024
Title: Failure to Address Misuse of Platform Necessitated Ban on X (Formerly Twitter), Interior Ministry Informs Islamabad High Court
The Interior Ministry conveyed to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday that the failure of X, formerly known as Twitter, to address concerns regarding its misuse compelled the imposition of a ban on the social media platform. Interior Secretary Khurram Agha, representing the ministry, submitted a comprehensive report in response to journalist Ehtisham Abbasi’s petition challenging the ban.
This development coincided with Pakistan’s two-month anniversary of the disruption in X’s services. The platform has been inaccessible since February 17, following allegations by former Rawalpindi commissioner Liaquat Chattha that the chief election commissioner and chief justice of Pakistan were involved in rigging the February 8 general elections. Notably, rights bodies, journalists’ organizations, and internet service providers have expressed concern over the stifling of social media, while the United States has urged Pakistan to lift restrictions on such platforms.
Previously, on March 20, the interior ministry informed the Sindh High Court (SHC) that the social media platform was blocked in February based on intelligence agency reports. Interestingly, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar acknowledged that X was already banned when the new government assumed power, emphasizing the lack of an official notification for the clampdown.
During a previous hearing, the IHC rejected a report on digital media outages and summoned the interior secretary to provide documentary evidence justifying the disruption of the social media app.
The court further warned that if the secretary failed to provide satisfactory reasons, the prime minister would be summoned. Today, the IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq presided over the hearing, with Advocate Amna Ali representing the petitioner and Additional Attorney General Munawar Iqbal Duggal present on behalf of the state. The hearing was adjourned until May 21.
In summary, the interior ministry’s report emphasized that the failure of Twitter/X to adhere to lawful directives from the government of Pakistan and address concerns about platform misuse necessitated the ban