PTA chairman says X shutdown decision rests with govt

Maj Gen (retd) Hafeezur Rehman says internet restrictions are not unique to Pakistan, noting incidents across Asia

Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Major General (retd) Hafeezur Rehman, has stated that the authority will unblock social media platform X (formerly Twitter) whenever the government directs.

Speaking in Islamabad on Tuesday, he said, "If the government or the Ministry of Interior orders us to block X, we are bound to follow the instruction without raising any questions. We are ready to reopen the platform the day the government says so."

Rehman highlighted that internet restrictions are not unique to Pakistan, noting incidents across Asia. "Look it up on Google; in 2022, India imposed internet shutdowns 24 times, while Pakistan did it once. In 2023, India enforced 116 shutdowns. Even in France, after the recent incidents, the internet was suspended for several days. During Bangladesh’s last elections, the internet was cut off too. While we don't support these actions, every country has security concerns that the government must address. National security is a necessity."

The chairman also addressed the current internet restrictions in Panjgur, Balochistan. "When I was asked about the Panjgur shutdown, I said to consult the relevant corps commander or the Ministry of Interior. We will lift the restrictions when instructed, as decisions on national security are made by the government and the Ministry of Interior."

Rehman stressed that the PTA operates a robust complaint mechanism. "We receive complaints daily. Whenever there is a violation on social media, we review it under the PECA law and other relevant regulations. Social media platforms cooperate with us extensively, and we have a compliance rate of 93%."

He clarified that security agencies have never officially requested the PTA to shut down the internet or social media. "It’s either the courts or the Ministry of Interior that issue such directives. Recently, during the MDCAT exams, we were asked to suspend internet services, and we refused. Similarly, the FPSC requested an internet suspension, and we also declined."

Regarding a request from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to block SIM cards, Rehman said the PTA turned it down. "As a regulator, we refused the request. The finance minister called us in for a meeting, and while he was displeased, we maintained our position. The FBR later reached an arrangement with telecom companies to resolve the issue themselves. Recently, there was a request to link SIMs with national ID cards, and we rejected that as well. PTA’s stance is clear."

He further noted that the upcoming 5G auction in April would resolve many issues, and that fibre optic expansion would similarly improve connectivity. "Over the last five years, India has spent $13 billion on fibre installation. Pakistan is also preparing its National Fibre Plan, and a Chinese company is already in the country. We expect to see improvements in fibre rollout next year, and our work on 5G is in an advanced stage."