PTA Withdraws X (Twitter) Suspension: Status and Controversies Unresolved
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has officially withdrawn its suspension notice for X (formerly Twitter). This development was confirmed by PTA’s lawyer, Ahsan Imam, during a hearing at the Sindh High Court. The court had been addressing petitions seeking the immediate restoration of access to the platform.
Court Proceedings and Current Status
During the court session, the judge questioned whether the withdrawal of the suspension notice implied that X was now operational. Despite the PTA’s retraction, Advocate Moez Jaffri, representing the petitioners, pointed out that access to X had not yet been restored. The court noted that the absence of a ban notification should generally mean that X should be accessible.
PTA’s Inconsistent Information
The PTA’s lawyer faced criticism for not having clear information about the technical aspects of the suspension’s withdrawal and for the inconsistency caused by having different representatives for various petitions. This created confusion regarding the current status of X in Pakistan. The lawyer admitted to limited information about the technical details surrounding the retraction.
Federal Government’s Response and User Reports
Earlier, the federal government had claimed that X was operational as of March 28. However, users continued to report that the platform remained inaccessible. The Deputy Attorney General had previously cited security concerns and intelligence reports as the reasons for the initial suspension.
Court’s Request and Adjournment
The court requested a detailed explanation from the government regarding the reasons for the suspension and adjourned the hearing for two weeks. During this time, the government is expected to provide an official stance on the matter. The court also acknowledged a contempt petition related to the continued ban, despite the PTA’s retraction of the suspension notice.
Background of the Suspension
The PTA initially banned X in February following allegations of election rigging. These accusations emerged after Liaqat Ali Chattha, an elections officer from Rawalpindi, publicly claimed on social media that he had tampered with election results. In response, the PTA blocked X on February 17, citing the need to prevent further violations of Pakistani law.
Defense of the Ban
The Ministry of Interior (MoI) had previously defended the suspension in court, arguing that it was necessary to address violations of Pakistani laws. The MoI raised concerns about hate speech and offensive content being spread on X against national institutions, which they claimed posed risks to national security and dignity. They also asserted that the ban did not conflict with Article 19 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression.
