IT minister explains reasons for ban on X in Pakistan

State Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja on Sunday explained the reason for a ban on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

Speaking to the media, Shaza said that Pakistan is suffering from cyberattacks on a daily basis therefore security measures are need of the hour. She said that a ban on X does not mean a ban on the freedom of expression. She said that X was banned in Pakistan on the instructions of the Interior Ministry.

A few weeks ago, Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar too had said that social media platform X was banned due to national security issues, not to curb the freedom of expression. Tarar also told a Senate panel in July that X had been banned by the caretaker government over “compliance issues”. 

In August, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said the government may lift the ban on X once social media rules and regulations are framed. 

In March this year, the Interior Ministry informed the Sindh High Court (SHC) that the social media platform was blocked in February till further orders on the reports of intelligence agencies. 

Access to X has been disrupted in many areas of the country since February 17.