Karachi, Pakistan – April 19, 2024 – Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior has announced a temporary ban on the social media platform Twitter (now known as X) in the country, citing national security concerns.
This order comes after Twitter’s usage was significantly restricted following Pakistan’s parliamentary elections in February.
The Interior Ministry stated in its announcement that “non-compliance with Pakistani laws and the misuse of the platform” necessitated the ban. Pakistani authorities have raised concerns about the content on Twitter, but according to a document sent to Reuters, Twitter has been unwilling to address these issues.
The Pakistani government has justified the Twitter ban by citing the need to protect national security, maintain public order, and preserve national unity. This decision was reportedly influenced by intelligence from Pakistani intelligence and security agencies, warning of “hostile elements” operating on Twitter with the aim of destabilizing the country.
It is important to note that YouTube was blocked in Pakistan from 2012 to 2016 due to content deemed blasphemous, and TikTok has been banned twice before being allowed to operate again after removing over 18 million videos.
Lawyer Moiz Dzaferi told AFP that he had initiated legal proceedings against the previous Twitter ban, and in a ruling issued on Wednesday, the government was ordered to unblock the platform.
It is unclear how long the Twitter ban in Pakistan will last.
Additional notes:
- The document sent to Reuters by the Pakistani Interior Ministry has not been made public, so the specific reasons for the ban are unclear.
- The ban on Twitter has been met with criticism from free speech advocates, who argue that it is a violation of the right to freedom of expression.
- Some users have reported being able to access Twitter using VPNs, which allow them to bypass the ban.
- It is possible that the ban on Twitter could be lifted in the future, but there is no indication of when this might happen
Sources: MTI (Magyar News Agency)
