The blockage faced widespread criticism for restricting freedom of speech and expression
In a significant ruling, the Sindh High Court directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to lift the ban on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), reinstating uninterrupted access for the citizens of Pakistan.
The blockage, initiated by the PTA on February 17, faced widespread criticism for restricting freedom of speech and expression.
Chief Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi led the bench that mandated the restoration of access to X, responding to a petition filed by Advocate Abdul Jaferii on behalf of a senior journalist. The plea named the PTA, Interior Ministry and Information Ministry as respondents in the case. The petition argued that blocking X was not only regressive and arbitrary but also violated Article 19 of the Pakistani Constitution, which safeguards the rights to freedom of the press and expression.
The plea stated that the actions of the PTA “directly and actively infringe upon the petitioners’ fundamental rights to freedom of speech and press, their right to receive information and their right to freedom of trade as enshrined in the Constitution.”
Furthermore, the petition asserted that the PTA executed the suspension clandestinely without issuing any formal notice or notification, thus blatantly infringing upon the due process of law as outlined in various legal and regulatory provisions. This lack of transparency and the absence of legal justification for the suspension were highlighted as actions devoid of legality, supposedly aimed at fulfilling hidden and questionable objectives to the detriment of the fundamental rights of all Pakistani citizens.
The PTA's intermittent restrictions on X since February 17 sparked calls for action from various quarters, including the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ). The PFUJ has urged the government to promptly restore full internet services nationwide, highlighting that any measures contrary to this demand threaten the fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution.
The United States has also called on Pakistan to lift social media restrictions. In a press briefing on February 21, Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the US Department of State, expressed concerns about the implications of such restrictions on the freedoms of expression and association in Pakistan. “We are concerned by any report of restrictions on freedom of association and expression in Pakistan, including the partial or complete government-imposed shutdowns on social media platforms,” Miller said.
