In the midst of increasing political instability in Pakistan, the Interior Ministry has confirmed the ban on Elon Musk’s X (previously Twitter). Initially banned back in February during the lead-up to the general election, the official action was announced recently.
The decision to X ban in Pakistan was attributed to its failure to comply with government directives and address concerns regarding platform misuse. The ban, enforced in the interest of national security and public order, aimed to preserve the nation’s integrity. However, specific reasons for the ban were not disclosed.
The political situation in Pakistan has been tumultuous since the February poll, with former Prime Minister Imran Khan alleging electoral rigging against his supporters. Critics view the X ban as an attempt to suppress dissent and stifle claims of interference in the election results.
X, on its part, expressed uncertainty regarding the reasons for the ban. Pakistan has a history of internet censorship, with various social platforms facing temporary bans as part of broader measures to quell unrest. Unlike neighboring India’s approach of censoring users and posts, Pakistani authorities often opt for full service restrictions.
The timeline for X’s reactivation in Pakistan remains uncertain, as does the exact criteria for meeting the government’s demands. Currently, X boasts approximately 4.5 million users in Pakistan.
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