Pakistan Court Hears Government's Defense on Social Media Ban

Pakistan authorities informed the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday that banning the social media platform X does not violate the country's laws. The SHC was hearing a case against the ban, which was implemented on February 17 following allegations of rigging during the February 8 elections.

Legal Justifications for Ban

The Ministry of Interior submitted a response to the court stating that the ban on X complies with Article 19 of the Constitution. This article allows freedom of speech but includes certain legal restrictions. The ministry emphasised that all legal requirements were met before imposing the ban.

Article 19 of Pakistan's constitution covers freedom of speech, expression, and press. However, it also permits restrictions under specific circumstances. The ministry highlighted that X had been used to disseminate hate speech against national institutions, raising concerns about national security and dignity.

Government's Argument

The ministry argued that the petition challenging the ban is inadmissible because it is the government's duty to protect citizens' rights. It added that X repeatedly violated local laws and did not sign any Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pakistan to comply with regulations.

Similar bans have been imposed on other social media platforms like TikTok, which were later allowed to operate after signing MoUs and ensuring compliance with Pakistani laws. The ministry noted that other countries also occasionally restrict social media for national interests and urged the court to reject the petition for national security and public order.

Continued Use by Officials

Despite the ban, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other top officials continue to use X for posting statements. This has raised questions about the consistency of the government's stance on the platform's usage.

X was banned on February 17, but it took a month for the government to officially acknowledge it. After the ban, users needed a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to access X.

The ministry's statement stressed that protecting national security and public order justifies such measures. They reiterated that similar actions are taken globally when necessary.

The court will now consider these arguments as it deliberates on whether to uphold or overturn the ban on X in Pakistan.