Islamabad High Court to Order PTA, Information Ministry to Unban X

Access to X in Pakistan has been notably limited since February 17. This limitation stemmed from provocative accusations made by Liaquat Chattha, the former Rawalpindi commissioner. Chattha’s claims implicated both the chief election commissioner and the chief justice of Pakistan in alleged misconduct related to the February 8 general elections.

In the previous month, Murtaza Solangi, the Caretaker Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting, and Parliamentary Affairs, addressed the media about the government’s worries regarding the misuse of social media to provoke violence and disorder.

During a press briefing, he stressed the government’s dedication to taking firm action against individuals involved in such illegal activities, in accordance with the law.

Solangi emphasized that while freedom of expression, as per Article 19 of the Constitution, is respected, it should be practiced within the limits of the country’s laws.

Today, the case was presented to IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq. The judge was informed about the government’s decision to ban X on February 17.

Following this, the IHC issued notices to both the information ministry and the PTA, postponing the hearing until next week.

In a separate development, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Bahramand Tangi presented a resolution in the Senate last week, suggesting the prohibition of Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, X, and YouTube.

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The resolution claims that these social media platforms are negatively impacting the youth of the nation.

Tangi has withdrawn his statement and offered an apology for his proposed resolution.