According to court documents, Pakistan’s communications authority has disclosed that it received directives from the Interior Ministry to sustain the shutdown of the social media platform X, which has persisted for five consecutive weeks.
The current government, recently elected into power, has been ambiguous regarding the censorship of the micro-blogging platform previously recognized as Twitter, owned by American tycoon Elon Musk.
Activists challenging the shutdown in the Sindh High Court argue that it was orchestrated to suppress dissent following the contentious polls on February 8, marked by allegations of electoral fraud.
Legal filings by lawyers representing Pakistan’s Telecommunication Authority (PTA) implicated government intelligence agencies in the directive issued on February 17 by the Ministry of Interior.
“In response to intelligence agency reports, the Ministry of Interior… directed the immediate blocking of X (Twitter) until further notice,” stated the documents presented by prosecution attorneys on Thursday.
Consequently, the social media platform X (Twitter) remains inaccessible.
Shehbaz Sharif assumed office as prime minister on March 4, leading a fragile coalition government that succeeded a caretaker administration.
The PTA declined to comment on the matter when approached by AFP, while inquiries to the military’s intelligence agencies remained unanswered.
Since February 17, access to X has been sporadic, following revelations by a senior government official regarding electoral manipulation in the preceding week.
Lawyer Abdul Moiz Jaferii, representing the activists, remarked, “Initially, the authorities feigned ignorance of the situation, but their formal response now acknowledges the issue and their role in perpetuating it.”
Former cricket icon and ex-prime minister Imran Khan faced imprisonment and disqualification from candidacy after discord with the country’s influential military leadership, with his party subjected to widespread arrests and online censorship amid protests directed at the military.
Allegations of electoral fraud were exacerbated by a nationwide mobile internet shutdown on polling day, justified by the caretaker government for security reasons following twin bombings a day earlier.
The next hearing for the case seeking to lift the X blockade is slated for April 17.
