Freedom Network demands restoration of X, slams caretaker govt

Media watchdog urges authorities to stop violating digital rights of people

Media watchdog Freedom Network called the undeclared ban on social networking platform X, which has been down in Pakistan since February 17 for unknown reasons, direct state-led censorship to deny citizens the right to express.

The ban on X comes days after another ban was imposed on mobile phones and mobile internet on election day – February 8, 2024 – which was shocking and disallowed voters from using technology to easily move to polling stations.

Amid political, economic and security challenges coupled with rigging allegations arising out of February 8 elections, the government’s fear of dissent forced it to take X as a threat and shut it down without giving any reasons.

It’s not the only one, as other social media applications, cellular services and internet frequently face blackout, leaving from the president to experts and media to common man to question the unannounced disruption and dub it an attempt to silent dissent.

"No other entity is responsible for this undeclared censorship of X than the federal caretaker government, which is proving to violate the fundamental rights of citizens of this country," the Freedom Network said in a press statement, joining the chorus to allow citizens access to the platform.

Read more: SHC orders restoration of social media apps including X

The media watchdog organisation said: “The public access to the social networking platform must be restored without any further delay as the ban goes contrary to the caretaker government’s plans to digitalise the country.”

It urged the authorities to stop violating the digital rights of the public.

X has been inaccessible since Saturday when former Rawalpindi commissioner Liaqat Chattha resigned over what he said was alleged “election rigging” in the Rawalpindi division.

Media reports suggested the platform “remained sporadically accessible in some cities” while reports said that it was not accessible in Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi.

Sharing views with The Express Tribune, IT and AI Strategist and Consultant Khawaja Fahad Shakeel said that disrupting X had technical, social and economic implications for the country. “It is used to make trends like the 2024 general elections, former Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha and the like.

Also read: X becomes govt's first target

On top of that, Shakeel said, the international media and watchdogs kept monitoring and measuring trends through the parameters like social media apps, used by all bigwigs and political parties. “If it is blocked, they stops making trends and the rankings fall significantly.”

He said common people are unaware of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), stressing that around 2 or 3% of the total internet users in Pakistan knew how to use VPNs to operate the social media platform. “When people have no access to information,” Shakeel said, “it impacts negatively.”

IT sector is divided into four industries—call center industry, SEO [Search Engine Optimisation] marketing industry, software development industry and social media industry, Shakeel said, adding the IT companies had to move to Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn to market their brands, when X was down.

Economic analyst and Alpha Beta Core CEO Khurram Schehzad said that the marketing agencies took full advantage of all social medial platforms and if even one app was down, it hurt businesses and image of the country.

“The social media are way more powerful these days, if it is blocked, it negatively impacts people, including investors, companies and foreigners.”