Islamabad: Interior Ministry Justifies X Ban to Islamabad High Court

The Interior Ministry informed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday that the ban on X, previously known as Twitter, was essential due to the platform's failure to comply with Pakistan's lawful directives.

Interior Secretary Khurram Agha, representing the ministry, submitted a report regarding the IHC's orders on a petition challenging the ban on X.

The hearing coincided with P

IHC Chief Justice chaired the hearing with Advocate Amna Ali as the petitioner's counsel.

During the session, Additional Attorney General Munawar Iqbal Duggal informed the court about the ministry's report, stating that X's non-compliance with lawful directives necessitated the ban.

The ministry requested the court to dismiss the petition, asserting that no rights of the petitioner had been violated.

The report highlighted instances of X's non-cooperation, including disregarding requests from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cybercrime Wing to ban accounts propagating against the chief justice.

Detailing the platform's shutdown, the report mentioned the Interior Ministry's orders issued on February 17, 2024, in response to intelligence agency requests, aimed at safeguarding national security and law and order.

The report underscored that the decision was made to uphold national security, public order, and the nation's integrity, citing X's misuse by elements promoting instability.

It emphasized X's lack of registration in Pakistan or adherence to its legal framework, indicating failure to establish a legal presence or cooperate with Pakistani authorities.

The ministry clarified that X's closure was not against Article 19 of the Constitution but a response to rising security concerns, similar to the ban on other social media platforms worldwide.

It stressed that X's closure aimed at responsible social media use in line with the law, referencing the temporary ban on TikTok, which was lifted after it agreed to comply with Pakistani law.

However, the court expressed dissatisfaction with the report, stating that the government based X's closure on speculation and urging authorities to provide solid evidence, even if X poses a security risk.

The hearing was adjourned until May 2.