SHC directs interior ministry to revoke X closure letter within a week

The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed the Ministry of Interior to revoke its letter regarding the suspension of social media platform X, formerly Twitter, within one week, in Wednesday’s hearing.

SHC Chief Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, while hearing multiple petitions filed by Zarrar Khuhro, Jibran Nasir and others, said, “What are you [interior ministry] achieving via shutting down trivial things? The world must laugh at us.”

SHC CJ also highlighted that the “law does not empower the interior ministry to act on reports forwarded by intelligence agencies”.

Lamenting the suspension, the petitioner’s lawyer said using X and other social media platforms does not lead to “blasts”.

“In hindsight [it seems that] no justification was given to suspend X,” the SHC chief justice said.

Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi added that the court will issue its orders if the interior ministry does not withdraw the directives issued on February 17.

The SHC directed the Ministry of Interior to present its reasons behind the blocking of social media platform X in the next hearing.

The court then adjourned the hearing till May 9.

Access to the microblogging site X has been disrupted since February 17, when former Rawal­pindi commissioner Liaquat Chattha accused the chief election commissioner and chief justice of Pakistan of being involved in rigging the February 8 general elections.