Pakistan’s new interior minister has called for improved laws to regulate internet free speech as disruptions to the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, continue into their fifth week. The platform has been sporadically accessible since February 17, following allegations of election rigging earlier that month.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi emphasized the need for better legislation, stating that while expression is important, false allegations against individuals need to be addressed. He highlighted the need to reassess existing laws to prevent misuse.
The disruptions have impacted political campaigning, particularly for jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, which was barred from running in the polls. Much of the campaigning moved online, where it faced numerous social media blackouts, blamed on technical glitches.
Critics have raised concerns about government transparency, with Sadaf Khan from Media Matters for Democracy noting the lack of transparency in the government’s actions regarding the X platform.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has given conflicting statements about the disruptions, stating to one media outlet that X “is working” and to another that it was “already banned” when the new government took office.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who came to power through a coalition following the polls, has continued to use X for official communications, including a recent message congratulating Russian President Vladimir Putin on his re-election.
The ongoing disruptions and government responses underscore the challenges of balancing internet freedom with the need for regulation to prevent misuse and false information.
