Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Major General (Rtd) Hafeezur Rehman has clarified that the decision to block social media platform ‘X’, formerly known as Twitter rests solely with the federal government.
In an informal conversation with reporters, he said that “X” will be reopened once the government issues a directive. The platform has received a large number of complaints in Pakistan and its case is currently being heard by the Sindh High Court.
Responding to concerns about internet outages, the chairman pointed out that in 2023, India recorded 116 internet shutdowns, while Pakistan recorded only seven cases. He emphasized that while the PTA does not support shutting down the Internet, national security remains a priority.
The chairman also noted that during Ashura, the 10th day of Muharram, mobile services were suspended in some areas, but internet services were temporarily stopped in certain areas only at certain times.
In comparison, he said Bangladesh also suspended mobile services during the election, saying each country has its own unique security challenges and decisions are made based on intelligence reports. He also confirmed that mobile data services are currently suspended in Panjgur due to ongoing security concerns.
