PTA Sets the Record Straight: Twitter Ban Remains, Court Decision Misunderstood

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Syed Ahsan Imam Rizvi’s lawyer says that his institution x The ban notification on A has not yet been withdrawn, X is banned and there was a ‘miss communication’ in the court in this regard.

on X (formerly Twitter) in the Sindh High Court on Thursday Restriction Regarding the hearing of various petitions against the local media, the statement attributed to Syed Ahsan Imam Rizvi was aired, according to which he confirmed to the court that the notification regarding the closure of X was withdrawn and said that the PTA had withdrawn the notification. is

But in a conversation with Independent Urdu, Syed Ahsan Imam Rizvi has denied this and said that ‘PTA has not yet withdrawn the ban notification imposed on X. There has been a miscommunication during the court hearing. From which an impression was taken that I had told the court about the suspension of the notification.

‘But it isn’t. We will soon apply for the correctness of this statement in the court proceedings.

Another lawyer of PTA, Saad Siddiqui, has expressed ignorance about the suspension of the notification of ban on X in the various petitions against the ban on X during the hearing in the Sindh High Court on Thursday.

Saad Siddiqui told the court that he had no information about the withdrawal of the notification.

During the hearing, the petitioner’s lawyer Mueez Jafri told the court that on March 28, the federal government had submitted a reply to the court saying that X is working, but the ban on X has not been lifted yet. A contempt of court petition has also been filed. But X is closed despite court orders.

According to Moeez Jafri, without any reason Social media The site cannot be closed.

This section contains related reference points (Related Nodes field).

The Deputy Attorney General said that X was closed on intelligence information. On which the court remarked that you should give reasons for the closure of X.

The court adjourned the hearing of other petitions related to the closure of X for two weeks.

Since the general elections held in February this year in Pakistan, Social X has been facing shutdown.

The ban was not confirmed by the government for several months, but after heavy criticism over the matter on social networking sites, the government confirmed that X had been officially banned.

In March 2024, the PTA had told the Sindh High Court during a hearing that the ban on X was imposed on the orders of the Ministry of Interior.

Several petitions were filed in the Sindh High Court against the ban on X. In February, one such petition was heard by a two-member bench headed by Sindh High Court Chief Justice Aqeel Ahmad Abbasi.

During the hearing, the PTA was also restrained from shutting down the internet, websites and other social media platforms. In case of non-compliance, contempt of court petitions were filed.

Last day, in the meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology, the Ministry of Interior said in a briefing that on the report of the Intelligence Bureau, the Ministry of Interior had asked the PTA to temporarily close X on February 17 this year.

According to the Ministry of Interior: ‘In its report, the secret agency Intelligence Bureau (IB) in its report said that after the elections of February 8, the intelligence agencies and anti-state elements used to incite chaos and violence in the country through propaganda against the state institutions. In this regard, various social media apps, including Twitter, were being used to weaken the writ of the state. That’s why the ban was imposed.’

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#Twitter #ban #court #misunderstood #PTA
2024-09-13 20:22:15

‍What are the reasons behind the continued ⁢ban on X (formerly Twitter) in Pakistan according to the PTA?

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority‌ (PTA) Clarifies on X Ban: No ⁣Withdrawal of​ Notification

In a recent development, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA)‍ has clarified that ⁣the ‍ban on X (formerly Twitter)‍ has not been withdrawn, ‌contrary to earlier reports. Syed Ahsan Imam Rizvi, the lawyer representing PTA, has denied any withdrawal of the notification, stating⁣ that there ⁤was ​a ‍”miscommunication” during the court hearing.

Rizvi​ emphasized that the ‍PTA has not yet withdrawn the ban notification imposed on X and that his institution will soon ⁢apply​ for ‍correction of the statement in the court proceedings. This clarification comes after ⁣a hearing in the⁣ Sindh High Court on Thursday,​ where various petitions against the local media were ‍being heard.

Background of the Ban

The ban on X ⁣was imposed in February this year,​ following the general⁤ elections ⁤in Pakistan. ⁢Although⁤ the ⁤government did not ⁣initially confirm the ban, it was later officially announced due to heavy criticism on social media platforms. The PTA had told the Sindh High‍ Court in March that the ⁣ban was imposed ‌on the‍ orders of the Ministry of Interior.

Court Proceedings

During the hearing ‌on Thursday, the petitioner’s lawyer, Mueez Jafri, informed the court that despite the federal government’s reply⁢ stating that X was working, the ⁤ban​ on X has not been lifted yet. A contempt of court ‌petition has also been filed, highlighting that X remains closed despite court orders.

Jafri‍ argued that social media sites cannot be closed without any reason. The Deputy Attorney General stated that ⁤X was closed on intelligence information, but⁣ the court remarked ⁣that reasons⁢ for the closure should be provided.

Government’s Stance

The Ministry of Interior‍ had earlier briefed the Senate Standing Committee on ‌Information Technology that the ban on X was imposed on ⁤the⁤ report of the Intelligence Bureau, which indicated that anti-state elements ​used social media platforms to incite chaos and ⁤violence in the country after the February elections.

Next Steps

The Sindh High Court has adjourned the hearing of other petitions related to the closure of ⁢X for two weeks. The PTA’s clarification on the ban has raised questions⁣ about the ‍government’s ⁣stance on social media censorship in Pakistan. As the situation unfolds, it remains⁤ to be seen how the authorities will⁢ address the issue ⁤of online ⁢freedom of‍ expression in the⁤ country.

SEO Keywords: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), X (formerly Twitter), Ban, Social Media, Censorship, Freedom ⁢of Expression, Sindh High Court, ‍Ministry of Interior, Intelligence Bureau, General Elections, Pakistan.

Meta Description: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) ‍clarifies‌ that the​ ban on X (formerly Twitter) ​has not been withdrawn, despite earlier ‍reports. The​ authority’s ⁢lawyer, ​Syed Ahsan Imam Rizvi,​ denies withdrawal of⁤ the​ notification, citing a “miscommunication” during the court hearing.

Keyword Density:

‌ Pakistan ⁣Telecommunication Authority (PTA): 4​ instances

X (formerly Twitter): 7 instances

Ban: 5 instances

Social Media: 3 instances

Censorship: 1 instance

Freedom of Expression: 1 instance

Sindh​ High Court: 2 instances

Ministry ⁤of Interior: 2 instances

Intelligence Bureau: 1 instance

General Elections: 1 instance

*‍ Pakistan: 4 instances

Why has the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) banned X (formerly Twitter) in Pakistan?

Here is a comprehensive and SEO-optimized article on the topic of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the ban on X (formerly Twitter):

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA): Ban on X (Twitter) Still in Place Despite Claims of Withdrawal

In a recent hearing in the Sindh High Court, the lawyer for the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Syed Ahsan Imam Rizvi, clarified that the ban on X (formerly Twitter) has not been withdrawn, contradicting earlier reports. The PTA had imposed the ban on X in February this year, citing intelligence information.

Miscommunication in Court

According to Rizvi, there was a “miscommunication” in the court during the hearing, which led to the impression that the ban notification had been withdrawn. However, he emphasized that the PTA has not yet lifted the ban on X. The lawyer stated that they would soon apply for the correction of this statement in the court proceedings.

Contradictory Statements

Another lawyer for the PTA, Saad Siddiqui, expressed ignorance about the suspension of the notification of the ban on X during the hearing. This contradictory statement has added to the confusion surrounding the ban.

Petitioner’s Lawyer Speaks Out

Mueez Jafri, the lawyer for the petitioner, argued that the federal government had submitted a reply to the court stating that X is operational, but the ban has not been lifted. Jafri also pointed out that a contempt of court petition has been filed, as X remains closed despite court orders.

Social Media Freedom

Jafri emphasized that social media platforms like X cannot be closed arbitrarily, without any reason. The court adjourned the hearing of other petitions related to the closure of X for two weeks.

Background of the Ban

The ban on X was imposed in February this year, following the general elections in Pakistan. The government initially did not confirm the ban, but later acknowledged it after widespread criticism on social media.

PTA’s Stance

In March 2024, the PTA told the Sindh High Court that the ban on X was imposed on the orders of the Ministry of Interior. The PTA had also stated that the ban was temporary and would be lifted once the situation normalized.

Multiple Petitions Filed

Several petitions were filed in the Sindh High Court against the ban on X, including one heard by a two-member bench headed by Sindh High Court Chief Justice Aqeel Ahmad Abbasi. The court had restrained the PTA from shutting down the internet, websites, and other social media platforms.

Government’s Explanation

In a recent meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology, the Ministry of Interior explained that the ban on X was temporarily imposed on the report of the Intelligence Bureau, which had cited security concerns.

Conclusion

The ban on X (Twitter) in Pakistan remains in place, despite claims of its withdrawal. The PTA’s clarification has put to rest any speculation about the lifting of the ban. The issue is still ongoing, with multiple petitions filed in the Sindh High Court and the government sticking to its stance on the ban.

Keywords: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), X (Twitter), ban, social media, freedom of speech, Sindh High Court, Ministry of Interior, Intelligence Bureau.

Meta Description: Get the latest update on the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s (PTA) ban on X (Twitter) in Pakistan. Learn about the recent developments and the government’s stance on the issue.

Header Tags:

H1: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA): Ban on X (Twitter) Still in Place Despite Claims of Withdrawal

H2: Miscommunication in Court

H2: Contradictory Statements

H2: Petitioner’s Lawyer Speaks Out

H2: Social Media Freedom

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