Confusion in Sindh High Court Over Social Media Platform X Ban in Pakistan
On Tuesday, two lawyers representing the telecom regulator presented conflicting views in the Sindh High Court about whether social media platform X has been restored. The hearing, conducted by a two-judge bench including Chief Justice Mohammad Shafi Siddiqui and Justice Omar Sial, addressed petitions challenging the suspension of mobile and internet services and the ban on X that has been in place since February.
At the start of the hearing, Ahsan Imam Rizvi, one of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s (PTA) lawyers, informed the court that the ban on X had been “withdrawn.” In contrast, Abdul Moiz Jaferii, representing the petitioners, argued that the platform remained inaccessible. The judges enquired if the withdrawal of the notification implied that access to X had been restored.
Saad Siddiqui, another PTA lawyer involved in a related case, stated he was unaware of any notification withdrawal. The judges noted the discrepancy, highlighting that while one PTA lawyer was aware of the withdrawal, another was not. The bench then granted time for the PTA and other respondents to clarify their stance on the matter and postponed the hearing for two weeks, with a written order expected to be issued on Friday.
Following the hearing, petitioner’s lawyer Abdul Moiz Jaferii informed reporters that X was still unreachable, and the accuracy of the PTA lawyer’s claim would be verified in the next session. The court is reviewing multiple petitions, including those from journalists and academics seeking X’s restoration, and a petition from lawyer Jibran Nasir addressing the suspension of mobile internet and broadband services on election day. Two similar petitions were also filed last year by the Public Interest Law Association of Pakistan and other petitioners.
On Thursday, the information technology minister reported to the Senate that X had been blocked following directives from the interior ministry. Shaza Fatima Khawaja explained that the PTA’s web management system was utilised to enforce the block on X, as per the ministry’s orders. She added that this system, established under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, is routinely updated and used to block illicit traffic and objectionable content, while also hinting at VPN use to bypass blocks.
Doubts Revealed
Sindh High Court -: The Sindh High Court is a major court in the Sindh province of Pakistan. It deals with important legal cases and issues.
Social Media Platform X -: This refers to a specific social media website or app that people use to share information and communicate. The exact name isn’t given, but it could be something like Facebook or Twitter.
Karachi -: Karachi is the largest city in Pakistan and the capital of the Sindh province. It’s a very important city for business and culture.
Chief Justice Mohammad Shafi Siddiqui -: He is one of the top judges in the Sindh High Court, responsible for making important legal decisions.
Justice Omar Sial -: He is another judge in the Sindh High Court who helps make decisions on legal cases.
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) -: The PTA is a government organization in Pakistan that controls and manages internet and phone services in the country.
Interior Ministry -: This is a part of the government in Pakistan that deals with internal security, including things like police and internet regulations.
Web Management System -: This is a tool or software used by the PTA to control and manage websites and internet access in Pakistan.
