X says it is working with Pak govt to 'understand concerns' as latter admits ban in place

Social media platform X, which has faced disruption in Pakistan since February, has stated that it is collaborating with the government to address their concerns. This statement was issued by X's Global Government Affairs late on Wednesday night, marking their first comments since the disruption began.

Access to X has been disrupted since February 17, following accusations by former Rawalpindi commissioner Liaquat Chattha against the chief election commissioner and chief justice of Pakistan regarding the February 8 general elections.

We continue to work with the Pakistani Government to understand their concerns.

— Global Government Affairs (@GlobalAffairs) April 17, 2024

The restriction on X has drawn condemnation from rights bodies, journalists’ organizations, and internet service providers, citing losses due to disruptions. The United States has also urged Pakistan to lift restrictions on social media platforms.

In March, the interior ministry informed the Sindh High Court (SHC) that the social media platform was blocked pending further orders based on intelligence agency reports.

The interior ministry's stance emerged after Information Minister Attaullah Tarar acknowledged that X was "already banned" before the new government took office, citing a lack of official notification for the clampdown.

On Wednesday, the SHC instructed the interior ministry to justify the X shutdown or withdraw its Feb 17 letter instructing the telecom regulator to ban the site. Failure to do so within a week would prompt the court to take appropriate action, according to lawyer Abdul Moiz Jaferii, who is challenging the ban.

Simultaneously, the ministry presented a detailed report to the Islamabad High Court (IHC), defending the ban as essential for national security, public order, and national integrity. The report argued that X's non-compliance with Pakistani authorities' requests to address defamatory content against the Chief Justice of Pakistan justified the temporary ban.

The ministry emphasized that X's lack of registration and cooperation with Pakistani laws necessitated regulatory measures, asserting that the ban aimed to disrupt hostile elements using social media to destabilize the country.

The ban, according to the interior ministry, aims to combat extremist ideologies and misinformation on social media while ensuring accountability and respect for Pakistan's legal jurisdiction.

It clarified that the ban on X was not to restrict access to information but to regulate social media platforms in line with national laws, similar to the earlier ban on TikTok, which was reinstated after compliance with local regulations.