• April 27, 2024
• Access to Information, Social Media

In recent days, the stability of Pakistan’s internet infrastructure has come under increased scrutiny following a series of disruptions and a submarine cable cut. The Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) on April 27 denied any disruption in its internet traffic after reports emerged that the underwater fiber-optic cable, South East Asia–Middle East–Western Europe 5 (SEA-ME-WE […]

• April 25, 2024
• Social Media

On April 20, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar defended the government’s decision to block access to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating that it was necessary for national security and public order. His remarks came amid increasing criticism and a court order questioning the legality of the ban. Dar drew comparisons between Pakistan’s ban and other countries’ actions, suggesting […]

• April 22, 2024
• Social Media

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has blocked more than 1.25 million URLs for containing objectionable content, the telecom sector regulator reported to the Sindh High Court (SHC) on April 16. The PTA provided a comprehensive breakdown of the blocked content: the majority contained indecent or immoral material, followed by content threatening Islam, national security, and content promoting […]

• April 22, 2024
• Freedom of Expression, Social Media

The federal government, in a bid to uphold the integrity and security of the electoral process, has announced the temporary suspension of cellular services in specific districts of Punjab and Balochistan during the by-elections scheduled for April 21 and 22. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) revealed in a statement issued on April 20 that, upon directives from […]

• April 22, 2024
• Social Media

On April 17, the Sindh High Court (SHC) has ordered the interior ministry to withdraw its February 17 letter to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), which led to the ban on social media platform X, within one week. The court asked the government to provide a valid reason for the extended ban, following over two months of […]

• April 22, 2024
• Social Media

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) heard a petition on April 17 challenging the ban on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, with the Interior Ministry stating that the platform’s failure to address concerns about misuse led to its disruption. Interior Secretary Khurram Agha, representing the ministry, submitted a report justifying the ban, stating it was […]

• April 9, 2024
• Social Media

On April 3, the Islamabad High Court (IHC), led by Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, ordered the interior secretary to appear before the court on April 17 to provide a detailed justification for the suspension of social media platform X, previously known as Twitter. The platform has faced access restrictions in Pakistan since February 17, amidst allegations of […]

• April 1, 2024
• Social Media

On March 28, Pakistan’s Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, and the British High Commission’s Political Counsellor, Zoe Ware, deliberated on the pressing global issue of fake news and misinformation. Tarar called for the establishment of a robust code of conduct for social media and content creators to curb the spread of false information. […]

• March 30, 2024
• Social Media

On March 27,  the Supreme Court of Pakistan, led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, restrained the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from arresting journalists till the next date of hearing following the issuance of notices under Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898.  This directive came during the hearing of a suo motu notice concerning alleged harassment of journalists […]

• March 28, 2024
• Social Media

On March 26, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) summoned an authorized officer from the Ministry of Interior to appear before the court on April 3 and justify the ongoing ban on the social media platform ‘X’ (formerly Twitter). This legal action is in response to a petition challenging the ban. An Islamabad resident Ehtisham Abbasi had filed a petition  on […]

• March 27, 2024
• Social Media

Judge Dr Mumtaz Hanjra of Judicial Complex Rawalpindi on March 25 dismissed the case against The Nation newspaper crime reporter Israr Ahmed Rajput. The court ordered Rajput’s release, finding that the initial First Information Report (FIR) was not filed in accordance with the law and that there was no evidence of malicious intent on the journalist’s part. The […]

• March 26, 2024
• Social Media

The Violent Extremism Prevention Unit of the Islamabad Police  blocked 462 social media accounts identified as promoting dangerous content. The targeted accounts fueled religious hatred, sectarian divides, linguistic hatred and anti-state propaganda. After a thorough investigation, the unit identified over 1,522 accounts across platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook that were actively spreading negativity and […]

• March 26, 2024
• Social Media

During a Supreme Court hearing on March 25, Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan assured that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) would soon withdraw cases against journalists Syed Imran Shafqat and Amir Mir. Both journalists had previously been implicated in allegations related to cybercrimes. The assurance came during a session before a three-judge bench of the Supreme […]

• March 21, 2024
• Social Media

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on March 20 heard petitions challenging the recent disruption of access to social media platform X, formerly Twitter. During the proceedings, the interior ministry admitted to blocking X, citing reports from intelligence agencies. The ministry, in its comments, said the action falls under the Removal and Blocking of Unlawful Online Content (Procedure, Oversight […]