Pakistan’s caretaker government banned social media platform X (formerly Twitter) citing “compliance issues,” Information Minister Attaullah Tarar informed the Senate on Wednesday.
Responding to a question from Senator Ali Zafar during a meeting of the Senate’s information committee, Mr. Tarar explained the ban. He added that the Ministry of Interior has submitted its response to the high court, which will now decide the platform’s fate.
The move comes amidst growing concerns among some senators, particularly from the ruling party, about the spread of fake news and misinformation on social media platforms.
Senator Zafar, the committee chair, emphasized that freedom of expression is a fundamental right for every citizen. However, Senator Irfan Siddiqui urged measures to prevent the “misuse of freedom of expression,” while Senator Jam Muhammad advocated for a strategy to tackle disinformation and fake news.
He suggested that social media platforms should serve national interests. Former information minister Pervez Rasheed lamented the spread of propaganda on these platforms and denounced the offensive language used by certain groups.
Pakistan’s minister expressed concern about the rise of digital crimes and the lack of tools to combat them, particularly deepfakes. He urged officials to take action to address this issue.
On a different note, the minister highlighted the importance of promoting entertainment within the country. He emphasized the need for initiatives to grow the film industry.