NEW DELHI: Pakistan‘s interior ministry said on Wednesday that it had directed temporary blockage of social media platform X in February due to national security concerns, verifying previously speculated concerns.
Users encountered difficulties accessing X, previously identified as Twitter, in Pakistan from mid-February onwards, despite the absence of formal government declarations.
The interior ministry acknowledged the shutdown in a written court filing on Wednesday, saying, “It is very pertinent to mention here that the failure of Twitter/X to adhere to the lawful directives of the government of Pakistan and address concerns regarding the misuse of its platform necessitated the imposition of a ban,”
According to the Dawn, access to X had been interrupted since February 17, following allegations made by former Rawalpindi commissioner Liaquat Chattha against the chief election commissioner and Chief Justice of Pakistan, accusing them of involvement in rigging the February 8 general elections.
(With agency inputs)
Users encountered difficulties accessing X, previously identified as Twitter, in Pakistan from mid-February onwards, despite the absence of formal government declarations.
The interior ministry acknowledged the shutdown in a written court filing on Wednesday, saying, “It is very pertinent to mention here that the failure of Twitter/X to adhere to the lawful directives of the government of Pakistan and address concerns regarding the misuse of its platform necessitated the imposition of a ban,”
According to the Dawn, access to X had been interrupted since February 17, following allegations made by former Rawalpindi commissioner Liaquat Chattha against the chief election commissioner and Chief Justice of Pakistan, accusing them of involvement in rigging the February 8 general elections.
(With agency inputs)