PTA chairman to raise the issue of disruption of X with interior ministry

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority Chairman retired Major General Hafeezur Rehman has said he will raise the issue of the closure of social media platform X with the interior ministry.

In a telephonic conversation with Dawn.com, the PTA Chairman said: “Either the matter should be cleared or someone should take responsibility for it. The closure of social media forums is always directed by the interior ministry.”

When questioned whether any instruction was issued regarding shutting down X in the country, the PTA chairman stated that there is just confusion for now.

“I have asked my staff that my internet is working even though I do not have a VPN,” he said, referring to a virtual private network.

Microblogging site X, formerly Twitter, remains inaccessible to millions of netizens in Pakistan since its suspension before the February 8 general elections.

Meanwhile, most of the X-users are using VPN to access the site.

On the other hand, earlier in the day talking to the journalists, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that he seeks a review of social media laws amid nationwide X disruption.

While talking to the media on Tuesday in Lahore, the federal interior minister said “Social media laws should be envisaged.”

”Social media is being misused. Social media regulations have been implemented across the globe,” he added.

The interior minister believed freedom of expression should be separated from propaganda, and smear campaigns against people. “Everyone has the right to freedom of speech, however, it should not be misused.”