NEW YORK - Clarifying government of Pakistan’s decision of banning X, formerly Twitter, Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting, National Heritage and Culture Attaullah Tarar Friday said that this decision was taken due to national security issues, not to curb freedom of expression.
Talking to Voice of America here, Tarar dispelled the impression that it was an unannounced ban, saying that the caretaker government had banned X before the February elections due to the issues related to compliance.
The “separatists and terrorists” were using the platform against Pakistan which could not be allowed, he added. Tarar said that the terrorists belonging to the so-called Balochistan Liberation Army were using the platform for promoting their anti-state activities.
Even the terrorists showed their terrorist activities live on the X without any check, he added.
The minister said the matter of ban on X was sub judice and the Ministry of Interior had already filed its reply in the court in that regard.
“As Pakistanis we can request the management of X to remove anti-state content uploaded by the terrorists,” he stressed.
Terrorists, he added, were misusing social media platforms which was totally unjustified.
“There must be some system to regulate the social media. Web management system was already in place,” he said, adding there was no harm in ensuring cyber and data security through it.
He opined that a Digital Rights Protection Authority type institution was needed where the people could file complaints for redressal.
A draft for the Digital Rights Protection Authority had been taken up by the Federal Cabinet, but it was deferred, he added.
The cabinet, he said, issued directives for taking suggestions from all stakeholders, including media houses, journalist organizations including Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and political parties so that an effective legislation could be done for future implementation.
He said as a political worker, he believed that ban on X should be removed and that could be possible if its management improved compliance issues.
