Government says X is a national security threat

The Federal Interior Ministry’s joint secretary told the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that “content uploaded on the internet” is a “threat” to Pakistan’s national security.

Journalist Ehtesham Abbasi had filed a petition in IHC against the closure of X, formerly Twitter.

X has been inaccessible in the country since February 17 and millions of users have been deprived of their basic rights.

Justice Aamer Farooq heard the plea and asked the interior ministry about any written communication of the closure. “What is this method? What is this attitude? Assist the court,” said the IHC CJ, adding that everything is “closed and jammed”.

The court expressed reservations that if the matter is as serious as national security then it should have been given in official writing. “Show us the documents. There will be no verbal conversation,” asserted Justice Farooq.

“You closed X on the Intelligence Bureau’s (IB) report. There are no reasons written in it, only a report based on speculation,” he added.