- Seeks review of social media laws, saying laws should be implemented like developed nations
- PTA chairman says he will raise closure of social media platform X with Interior Ministry
LAHORE: As the countrywide disruption of social networking platform, X, enters fifth week, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi sought review of social media laws to “stop its misuse,” saying the country needs better laws to regulate internet free speech.
On the other hand, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority Chairman Maj-Gen (r) Hafeezur Rehman said he will raise the issue of the closure of social media platform X with the Interior Ministry.
X, formerly Twitter, remains inaccessible to millions of netizens in Pakistan since its suspension before the February 8 general elections.
“Social media laws should be envisaged,” Naqvi said while speaking to journalists in Lahore on Tuesday, adding” Social media is being misused. Social media regulations have been implemented across the globe.”
The interior minister was of the view that freedom of expression should be separated from propaganda, and smear campaigns against people. “Everyone has right to freedom of speech, however, it should not be misused.”
Speaking to the media alongside PPP leader Ali Haider Gilani, the security czar cited the example of how the US House passed a bill to ban TikTok.
“In a country like the US where such things (ban) are taking place, we will also need to review our law and make sure that there is ‘no ban’ on the freedom of expression,” Naqvi added.
He advocated implementation of social media laws in the country following patterns of developed countries like the United States (US).
Responding to a question, Naqvi said that smear campaigns against politicians, judiciary, and other national institutions should be stopped.
His statement came after Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Atta Tarar’s admission that the social networking app was suspended in the country.
Tarar, responding to queries regarding X’s (former Twitter) suspension, said that the platform was already banned when they came to power, whereas, there was no official notification regarding the ban.
Stressing the need for a charter on “do’s and don’ts”, the info minister said that there should be talks between the political parties that which “red lines” should not be crossed on the social media platform.
He expressed his annoyance over allegation against women, abuses, misbehaviour and smear campaign against martyrs’ sacrifices on the social media.
Disruptions continue despite court orders
Besides a complete suspension of internet on the polling day, netizens have been facing sporadic disruptions and hindrances in accessing the social media platform despite different courts’ orders for the resumption and uninterrupted access to the masses, Geo News reported earlier.
In addition to this, human rights activists and civil society organisations had also sought immediate resumption of X in a joint statement expressing profound concern over the increasing instances of internet shutdowns and social media platform blocking on March 13.
Calling out the “arbitrary blocking of platforms”, the rights activists and civil society organisations had launched a campaign #InternetKholo to draw the new incumbent government’s attention towards the matter for restoration of X.
“These actions not only infringe upon the fundamental rights of freedom of expression and access to information but also set a troubling precedent of throttling genuine political discourse including plurality of voices in the country,” the statement had read.
The statement had also criticised Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for continuous silence and failure to furnish any reasons for its actions and exceeded its mandate to block an entire internet platform.
PTA to raise disruption of X with interior ministry
Meanwhile, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Maj-Gen (retd) Hafeezur Rehman said that the authority had not received any written order from the interior ministry regarding the closure of X. “There is just confusion for now,” he told a local website.
While answering a question regarding Information Minister Attaullah Tarar’s acknowledgement of the closure, Rehman stated that Tarar should be questioned for any information on X.
The PTA chairman said he would raise the issue of the closure of social media platform X with the interior ministry, the website reported. “Either the matter should be cleared or someone should take responsibility for it. The closure of social media forums is always directed by the interior ministry.”
When asked whether any instruction was issued regarding shutting down X in the country, the PTA chairman stated that there is just confusion for now. “I have asked my staff that my internet is working even though I do not have a VPN,” he said, referring to a virtual private network.
