Federal of Pakistan Minister of Information and Publications Attaullah Tarar has said that social media platforms x (formerly Twitter) in the country closure was not intended to restrict freedom of expression at all.
Speaking to Voice of America on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York, he said that certain elements were using X against national interests, which led to its closure.
The federal minister further said that the reason for banning this social media platform in Pakistan was national security and it would be wrong to associate it with freedom of expression.
He said that the ban on X in Pakistan was imposed by the interim government of PDM and it is not unannounced.
However, Attaullah Tarar said that ‘as a political activist, I would like that the ban on X should be removed.
‘If the issues surrounding the use of X are resolved, this matter can be resolved amicably.’
The federal minister pointed out that separatist and militant groups are using X against the country.
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Attaullah Tarar said that there is a need to have a mechanism to regulate social media to prevent its misuse.
He said that the web management system is already in place and there should be no problem in ensuring cyber and data security under this system.
Since Pakistan’s general elections in February this year, social media platform X has been experiencing blackouts in the country, initially unannounced.
The federal government avoided confirming the ban on X for several months. After heavy criticism of social media on social and traditional media and other forums, the government acknowledged that X had been officially banned.
In March 2024, the PTA had told the Sindh High Court during the hearing of a petition that the ban on X was imposed on the orders of the Ministry of Interior.
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2024-09-28 16:36:10
