Islamabad: After a five-day disruption, access to the microblogging platform, formerly known as Twitter and now referred to as ‘X’, has been restored by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). This move comes in compliance with an order from the Sindh High Court, which instructed the PTA to fully reinstate access to the social media site ‘X’ across the country.
Twitter’s service in Pakistan had been experiencing intermittent disruptions since the night of February 17, leading to frustration among users. While the service was temporarily restored on February 20, it faced another disruption shortly thereafter, prolonging the period of limited access.
The decision to restore access to ‘X’ followed a petition filed by senior journalists including Zarar Khuhro and Amber Shamsi, who approached the Sindh High Court through advocate Abdul Moeez Jafrii against the ban on the social media platform. During the proceedings, the counsel for the petitioners highlighted contradictory statements from government officials regarding the ban, with the Interior Minister denying any directive for the ban while the IT Minister emphasized efforts to boost the IT sector.
The court’s intervention underscores the importance of upholding digital rights and ensuring freedom of expression in Pakistan’s online sphere. The restoration of access to ‘X’ will provide relief to millions of users who rely on the platform for communication, information sharing, and networking.
As the platform resumes normal operations, users are hopeful for uninterrupted access and a conducive environment for online discourse. The developments surrounding the temporary ban serve as a reminder of the ongoing challenges in balancing freedom of expression with regulatory concerns in the digital age. Stay tuned for further updates on this evolving situation.