After a seven-month ban, the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) is now accessible in Pakistan. X was banned in February, following the elections, and the ban remained in place until now. A PTA lawyer confirmed this update at the Sindh High Court.
The lawyer announced that the letter about the ban on X, known as Twitter, which was issued in February, has been withdrawn. This letter was the reason behind the ban on social media. The lawyer provided this report after the Sindh High Court asked the PTA’s stance on the extended ban on X and gave an update on the matter.
It is still unclear whether X will remain operational permanently or if it will face another ban again in coming days. The court has adjourned the hearing of other petitions regarding X’s closure for two weeks.
The original ban on X was imposed in February due to allegations of election fraud by a senior government official. Leading up to Pakistan’s February 8 general elections, citizens experienced difficulties accessing popular social media platforms. Officials attributed these interruptions to technical errors. However, on election day itself, the caretaker government implemented a complete internet shutdown, citing terrorism prevention as the justification. After the elections, users continued to face access issues with social media, particularly with the platform X (formerly Twitter).
These restrictions raise potential violations of fundamental rights enshrined in Pakistan’s constitution, as such shutdowns appear to conflict with Article 19-A (freedom of information), Article 19 (freedom of speech), and Article 17 (freedom of association).
X (Formerly Twitter) Unbanned in Pakistan
