Is social media a threat to national security in Pakistan? The government seems to think so, justifying their months-long ban on X, a popular social media platform in the country. The Interior Ministry defended their decision to the Sindh High Court, claiming that X poses a potential destabilization risk by targeting national institutions with its content.
The government argued that the ban on X does not violate freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by the constitution, as all legal procedures were followed before implementing the ban. The ban was imposed in February following widespread protests over alleged election rigging, sparking public outcry.
Pakistan’s military has labeled critical social media campaigns as “digital terrorism,” with the Army Chief warning against spreading lies, fake news, and propaganda to create division between the armed forces and the people. With X still banned and no plans for restoration, the debate over national security versus free speech continues to escalate in Pakistan.