Pakistan blocked social media platform X over national security, ministry tells court

Pakistan's interior ministry on Wednesday (Apr 17) told the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that it blocked access to social media platform X during the general election in February because of concerns over its misuse and national security concerns.

Since February, dozens of users in Pakistan reported problems using X, but the government never made any official announcements.

The disruptions startedon February 17 when jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's party called for protests when a government official admitted that there was manipulation with voting in the election. The issue persisted ever since.

The court asked for a report after journalist Ehtisham Abbasi filed a petition challenging the ban. Interior Secretary Khurram Agha submitted the report on behalf of the ministry.

As quoted by media outlets, the report noted: "It is very pertinent to mention here that 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,"the report said.

Pakistan's communications authority later acknowledged in court papers that it had been ordered by the Interior Ministry to shut the site down.

Meanwhile, in a separate challenge to the shutdown, the Sindh High Court (SHC) said on Wednesday that the government must restore social media platform X within one week, a lawyer said, after more than two months of disruption ordered by the interior ministry.

"The Sindh High Court has given the government one week to withdraw the letter, failing which, on the next date, they will pass appropriate orders," Moiz Jaaferi, a lawyer challenging the ban, told AFP.

The continued disruption of X in Pakistan raised nationwide concerns about democratic freedoms in the country.

A total of 28 civil society organisations, including Amnesty International and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, had issued a joint statement of condemnation.

(With inputs from agencies)