In a response submitted to the Sindh High Court, Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior has declined to reinstate the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter. The Ministry argues that X poses a threat to national security and asserts that restricting access to the platform does not violate the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution.
This decision is in response to a legal challenge against the shutdown of X on February 17th. The Ministry claims to have acted based on intelligence reports indicating attempts to destabilize the country through the platform. They also highlight that X, a foreign company, has not signed any agreements with Pakistan and allegedly failed to comply with Pakistani law.
“Restrictions on X were imposed for national security and to uphold national dignity,” the Ministry stated, citing the presence of provocative content targeting Pakistani institutions. The Ministry emphasized its commitment to protecting the rights of Pakistani citizens while upholding the law.
This move follows a global trend of governments placing limitations on social media platforms. The Ministry claims that other countries have also implemented restrictions on similar platforms and that the shutdown of X was a necessary measure in the absence of a viable alternative.
The Sindh High Court is currently considering the arguments presented by the Ministry of Interior.
