The Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting on Wednesday sought a report on the suspension of the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, in Pakistan. During the meeting, the committee chairman, Syed Ali Zafar, inquired about the government’s stance on the shutdown of X. In response, Minister of Information Ata Tarar said the matter is currently under judicial review. However, he clarified that the caretaker government imposed the ban.
Ata Tarar explained that X has no policy to block obscene or hateful content, claiming that there are entire accounts filled with pornographic videos. He criticised X’s compliance rate as very poor. He cited an incident in Australia where a man attacked a church with a knife, and despite the Australian government’s request, X did not remove the video but only blocked it within Australia. Similarly, X broadcast live a video of an attack on a sensitive location in Pakistan.
During the Standing Committee meeting, Senator Irfan Siddiqui said there is a need to find a balance between freedom of expression and responsibility. He brought up a false article that circulated on social media, purportedly attributed to him and in support of the Taliban. “I reported this to the FIA [Federal Investigation Agency] and other authorities, but they have not taken any action,” he stated. Siddiqui also brought attention to the social media sharing of fake news about Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz constructing a fortress for her office in Lahore. He urged people to use their freedom of expression responsibly and respect others’ dignity.
Jam Muhammad, a committee member, underlined the need for freedom of expression but also demanded a plan to stop falsehoods and create news. “As representatives of society, we must play a more effective role and employ this forum for the benefit of the country and the nation,” he stated.
Senator Pervaiz Rashid pointed out that social media serves as a forum for misinformation, as well as for rhetoric that goes against Islamic and social norms. He voiced dismay about political leaders using vulgar language. When talking about the Pakistan Censor Board, he bemoaned the lack of public entertainment films and attributed four decades of deprivation to strict censorship.
Rashid asserted that while foreign businesses have flourished, Pakistan’s film sector has suffered because people mistakenly believe that bad content is being shielded from them. He called for the lifting of the movie ban, asserting that films that do not endanger children should not pose a threat to Pakistani children.
The conference highlighted the difficult questions regarding X’s suspension in Pakistan, balancing the necessity to stop the dissemination of negative content with freedom of expression. The committee members underlined the need for striking a compromise that guarantees responsible use of social media channels while safeguarding personal liberties.
