Minister cites security concerns for 'X' ban

NEW YORK:

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar clarified on Friday that the ban on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, was imposed due to national security concerns, not to limit freedom of expression, according to the APP.

In March, the interior ministry admitted to the Sindh High Court (SHC) that X had been officially blocked in February based on intelligence reports. Access to the platform has been restricted in various parts of Pakistan since February 17.

Tarar explained that the caretaker government banned X before the February 8 general elections due to "compliance issues," refuting claims that it was an unannounced ban.