Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Aalia Neelum has given the federal government a final warning to explain the ongoing blockage of the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) in Pakistan. The court is demanding a clear answer on how and why access to the platform was restricted.
X has been inaccessible in Pakistan since February 17, 2024, following allegations of election rigging by former Rawalpindi commissioner Liaquat Chattha. The ban has been widely criticized by human rights groups, journalists, and even the United States, which urged Pakistan to lift social media restrictions.
During the latest court hearing, a three-member bench, led by Chief Justice Neelum, reviewed petitions against the ban. The federal government, the Ministry of Law, the Ministry of Information, and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) were all made part of the case.
Justice Neelum questioned how the government had blocked X while still allowing certain institutions to use it. She warned that if a proper explanation was not provided, the head of the cabinet could be summoned.
PTA Chairman Major General (Retired) Hafeezul Rehman presented a written response but struggled to answer many of the court’s questions. Deputy Attorney General Asad Bajwa admitted that the government lacked a system to track social media usage through VPNs, to which the judge responded that the government could block X but could not monitor its users.
The court was also surprised to learn that PTA itself was using X despite the ban. When questioned, the PTA chairman initially admitted that the authority was using VPNs but later changed his statement, leading the judge to criticize his lack of preparedness.
Justice Neelum emphasized that while inappropriate content could be blocked, banning the entire platform was not lawful. She also warned that wasting the court’s time could lead to contempt of court charges.
The hearing has been adjourned until April 8, with the government expected to provide a final explanation.
