ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The immediate restoration of social media platform X in Pakistan remains unlikely as negotiations between the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the platform’s foreign management failed to reach a resolution.
Reportedly, X has refused to register in Pakistan or comply with local laws, according to sources.
They said PTA has decided not to restore the service in the country on its own and without explicit government or court directives.
According to the officials, despite multiple exchanges of correspondence, X, formerly known as Twitter, has refused to register in Pakistan meaning thereby they have refused to comply with local laws, saying that the platform’s policies conflict with Pakistani regulations.
X was blocked on February 17 last year
The platform was blocked on February 17, 2024, following directives from the Ministry of Interior, citing concerns over illegal online content.
Despite being repeatedly asked to remove or block objectionable content, X neither gave heed to the government requests nor submitted a formal appeal for service restoration.
According to PTA, the Ministry of Interior has not issued any instructions regarding X’s reinstatement immediately, firming the uncertainty over when, or if, the platform will be accessible again in Pakistan.
X has remained inaccessible in the country since February 2024 around the time of the February 2024 elections, citing national security concerns.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice on March 20 gave the PTA chairman the last chance for social media app X ban lifting, expressing disappointment with his replies submitted in the court.
LHC Chief Justice Aalia Neelum was heading a three-member bench hearing the petitions filed by Hafiz Shakir Mahmood and others against the ban on X.
Seeking solution of issue, Justice Neelum asked the PTA counsel to tell the court who will resolve this issue. “If federal cabinet is responsible for lifting the ban, then the court will summon its head”, the court observed.
