Senator Bahramand Tangi tables resolution seeking ban on social media platforms

Senator Bahramand Tangi on Saturday tabled a resolution seeking a ban on social media platforms to prevent “misuse against the country’s interest.”

Senator Bahramand Tangi called for a ban on social media platforms including Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter — now X, citing the country’s interest to “save the young generation from their negative and devastating effects”.

Senator also alleged that the social media platforms were creating hatred amongst the people on the grounds of language and religion.

“Cognizant of the fact that social media platforms are adversely affecting the young generation in the country; Acknowledging the fact that these platforms are being used for promotion of norms against our religion and culture, creating hatred amongst the people on the grounds of language and religion,” the resolution read.

The resolution tabled in the Upper House by Tangi  stated that there were concerns about the use of social media platforms against the interests of the country “through negative and malicious propaganda against the armed forces of Pakistan.”

It is pertinent to mention here that Tangi’s tenure as senator ends on March 11, while the resolution has been placed on the Senate agenda for its meeting scheduled for March 4.

The resolution further stated that these platforms were being used for vested interests in spreading fake news about various issues and trying to “create and promote fake leadership in the country to hoodwink the young generation.”

On PPP had reportedly terminated Senator Tangi’s basic membership of the party for violating the party discipline and not responding to a show-cause notice issued to him over his silence on a resolution seeking a delay in the February 8 polls.

Tangi was elected as a senator as the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) candidate in a general seat from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the 2018 Senate election. He took oath as Senator on 12 March 2018.

Meanwhile, access to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has remained restricted for users across Pakistan for the last two weeks.