By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The interior ministry confirmed on Wednesday the blocking of social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, citing national security concerns during the February elections, marking the first official acknowledgment of a shutdown that users have reported since mid-February.
In a court document, the ministry stated, “The failure of Twitter/X to adhere to the lawful directives of the government of Pakistan and address concerns regarding the misuse of its platform necessitated the imposition of a ban.”
“The decision to impose a ban on Twitter/X in Pakistan was made in the interest of upholding national security, maintaining public order, and preserving the integrity of our nation.”
Access to X has been restricted since the February 8 national election, which the party of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan alleges was manipulated. The blockage intensified following accusations by former Rawalpindi commissioner Liaquat Chattha of election rigging involving senior judicial and electoral officials.
Rights organizations have criticized the suppression of social media, while internet service providers have reported financial losses due to the disruption. International calls, including from the United States, have urged Pakistan to lift the social media restrictions.
Khan’s Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf party, known for its extensive use of social media, faced traditional media censorship ahead of the elections. Khan, with over 20 million followers on X, remains a significant online presence despite his incarceration on charges he claims were politically motivated.
Government officials, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, appear to continue using X, likely through VPNs circumventing the ban.
The interior ministry’s report detailed a directive issued on February 17 to block X based on intelligence reports, describing the ban as a measure against “hostile elements” aiming to destabilize the country.
“The decision to impose a ban on Twitter/X in Pakistan was made in the interest of upholding national security, maintaining public order, and preserving the integrity of our nation.”
It reports said that “hostile elements operating on Twitter/X have nefarious intentions to create an environment of chaos and instability, with the ultimate goal of destabilising the country and plunging it into some form of anarchy”.
“The ban on Twitter serves as a necessary step to disrupt the activities of these elements and prevent them from achieving their destructive objectives,” the report said.
The report further noted X’s lack of registration in Pakistan and its absence of legal agreements to comply with local laws, underscoring the need for regulatory actions to ensure accountability and adherence to national legislation.
“The ban on Twitter/X serves as a necessary step to address this regulatory vacuum and compel the platform to respect the sovereignty and legal jurisdiction of Pakistan,” the interior ministry said.
The “lack of cooperation from Twitter/X authorities in addressing content that violates Pakistani laws and values further justifies the need for regulatory measures, including the temporary ban”.
“The government of Pakistan has no alternative but to temporarily block access/suspend the operation of this platform within Pakistan,” it added.
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