” Interior ministry answerable for X ban, PTA informs IHC ” | GNN INFO

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) was informed on Tuesday by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s (PTA) counsel that the interior ministry is answerable for the banning of social media platform X in the country. 

The remarks by the PTA counsel came during the hearing of a petition against the ban on the social media platform. The hearing was presided over by IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq.  

The chief justice was also handed a sealed letter by the PTA counsel, who stressed it was for the court’s eyes only. However, after going through the letter, the chief justice remarked that it contained nothing substantial. The petitioner’s counsel was also shown the letter. 

The petitioner’s lawyer stated that the letter had circulated widely on social media platforms. 

In response, PTA’s legal counsel attributed the platform’s closure to directives outlined in the letter, citing legal obligations for compliance. “The answer is to be given by the Ministry of Interior.”

Justice Farooq replied that the platform can only be banned under specific laws and emphasised that it plays a role in the exchange of ideas and freedom of speech and is used by many in Pakistan. 

The court maintained that there should be a genuine reason for the ban. The chief justice further said that “things have changed over the past two decades” and many opinions are present on the social media app, including some against the judiciary.

“Platforms can only be banned under the rule of law,” reiterated the court. 

Read X factor: Twitter ban hits businesses, news in Pakistan

Adjourning the proceedings till April 3, the court summoned an authorised officer from the interior ministry for the next hearing. 

Access to the social media giant has been blocked since Feb 17 as allegations of rigging during the Feb 8 general elections continue to make news.

According to Digital Rights activists, millions of internet users in the country have experienced service interruptions five times during the last two months, including on election day, i.e., February 8.

Ban was imposed after an elections officer in Rawalpindi, Liaqat Ali Chattha, publicly claimed to have allegedly changed election results in his area. It soon went viral on social media.