ISLAMABAD: The government of Pakistan has submitted its response to the Sindh High Court (SHC) regarding the suspension of services of social media platform X, saying that the action complies with all legal prerequisites and does not violate Article 19 of the Constitution.
In its submission on Monday, the Interior Ministry highlighted that while Article 19 guarantees the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression, it is subject to reasonable restrictions in the interest of public order, morality, and Pakistan’s sovereignty and integrity.
This response follows multiple petitions filed in the SHC challenging the ongoing ban on X and intermittent disruptions of internet services across the country.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) previously informed the court that the platform was blocked nationwide on February 8 under the directive of the Interior Ministry, based on intelligence reports.
The government defended its decision, arguing it was necessary to regulate social media platforms to address national security and public safety concerns, particularly due to the dissemination of hateful content targeting national institutions on X.
Furthermore, the government emphasized that without a signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with X, it had no choice but to impose a temporary ban based on security agency reports. It urged the court to dismiss the petitions, asserting they lacked merit and did not substantiate infringement of any rights.
In addition to the ban, reports indicate the government is implementing a national firewall across internet service providers (ISPs) to monitor and filter content deemed undesirable or prejudicial to national security. This firewall aims to track propaganda sources and restrict their visibility, with preparations also underway to regulate the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to prevent misuse.
