In February, Pakistan blocked access to the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) due to national security concerns, as confirmed by the Ministry of Interior. The platform had been experiencing disruptions since mid-February when jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party called for protests following claims of vote manipulation. At the time, both the government and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) remained silent about the widespread outages, which were also reported by internet watchdog groups.
On Wednesday, the Ministry of Interior disclosed the shutdown in a court submission, citing the platform’s failure to comply with government directives. The ministry argued that the ban was essential to maintain national security, public order, and the integrity of the country, noting that X had been reluctant to address misuse of the platform.
Activists opposed the ban, claiming it was an attempt to suppress dissent after the general elections on February 8, which were marred by allegations of vote rigging. Authorities had also shut down mobile services on election day due to security concerns. NetBlocks, an internet monitoring group, reported that users were unable to access X on February 10 as the country awaited the election results.
Pakistan says it blocked social media
The ban, according to a government report, was based on intelligence suggesting that hostile elements were using X to destabilize the country. However, the Sindh High Court ordered the government to restore access within one week, following a legal challenge by lawyer Moiz Jaaferi.
social media platform X
While access to X has been sporadic, with some users relying on virtual private networks, Khan’s party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), remains highly active on social media, especially after traditional media began censoring coverage of the former prime minister and his party. Khan currently has 20.6 million followers on the platform.
