In response to the suspension of services of the social media platform X, the federal government has asserted to the Sindh High Court (SHC) that this action does not infringe on Article 19 of the Constitution, which protects freedom of speech and expression, since all legal prerequisites were fulfilled.
The Interior Ministry’s response emphasized that while Article 19 guarantees fundamental rights, it allows for reasonable restrictions in the interest of public order, morality, and national sovereignty. This justification follows several petitions filed in the SHC against the ongoing ban on X and intermittent internet service suspensions in Pakistan.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) previously informed the SHC that X was blocked nationwide on February 8 based on directions from the federal interior ministry, which cited intelligence agency reports. The last hearing of the case took place on June 28.
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The government’s submission to the court argued that the ban on X is a legitimate regulatory action aimed at addressing national security and public safety concerns. It highlighted that hateful content targeting state institutions is often posted on X and, without a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the company, the temporary ban was necessary.
The government also stated that the ban aligns with previous actions taken against platforms like TikTok under similar concerns. It requested the court to dismiss the petitions, arguing that they are non-maintainable and that petitioners lack standing due to the absence of cause of action and infringement of rights.
Furthermore, the government is implementing a national firewall to control social media through internet service providers (ISPs), which will block unwanted content. This firewall aims to identify and block propaganda material and undesirable content, with a focus on locating the sources of such material. The filtering system will inspect posts on platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and X, and preparations are underway to regulate the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).
The government’s efforts are part of a broader strategy to maintain national security and public order while managing the use of social media in Pakistan.
