Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior has submitted a report to the Sindh High Court regarding the recent ban on X (formerly Twitter) in Pakistan. The ministry has stated that X cannot be restored, as it poses a threat to national security.
The ministry explained that the ban was necessary to protect the country’s interests and that all legal requirements were fulfilled before it was imposed.
They argued that the ban on X does not violate Article 19 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression, as the article allows for reasonable restrictions in the interest of national security.
The ministry also highlighted that X has been used to upload hateful content against national institutions, spreading misinformation and potentially inciting unrest.
They added that X, a foreign company, has been repeatedly asked to comply with Pakistani laws but has failed to do so, leaving the Ministry of Interior with no other option but to temporarily ban the platform.
The ministry further stated that on February 17, they requested an immediate ban on X due to its failure to sign an MoU with Pakistan and commit to complying with local laws. They emphasized that X’s actions violated Pakistani laws, leaving the government with no choice but to impose a ban.
The Ministry of Interior stressed that the ban on X was imposed to protect national security and dignity, based on reports from sensitive institutions. They claimed that certain elements were using X to spread instability in the country, and that other countries also impose bans on social media platforms.
