Pakistan Blocks Social Media Platform X

Pakistan's interior ministry confirmed on Wednesday that it had blocked access to the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, around the time of the country's February election, citing national security concerns.

In a written court submission, the ministry stated that the decision was made due to X's "failure to adhere to the lawful directives of the government of Pakistan and address concerns regarding the misuse of its platform." The ministry claimed that "hostile elements operating on Twitter/X have nefarious intentions to create an environment of chaos and instability, with the ultimate goal of destabilising the country and plunging it into some form of anarchy."

Users in Pakistan have reported issues accessing X since mid-February, but the government had not made any official announcements until now. The ministry's report said the decision was taken after considering confidential reports from Pakistan's intelligence and security agencies.

The move comes amid allegations of election rigging from the party of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, who is the most followed Pakistani on the platform with over 20 million followers. Khan's party has been a prolific user of social media, particularly after traditional media outlets began censoring news about the ex-cricket star and his party ahead of the polls.

While the government has blocked access to X, many officials, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, continue to use the platform, likely through the use of VPN software to bypass the restrictions.

The interior ministry defended the decision, stating that it was made "in the interest of upholding national security, maintaining public order, and preserving the integrity of our nation." However, the move has raised concerns about freedom of expression and the government's control over information during a sensitive political period.