X is finally accessible in Pakistan without VPN after 7-month ban?

ISLAMABAD: Social media platform Twitter, now known as X, has become accessible again in Pakistan after a 7-month ban, a PTA lawyer confirmed in the Sindh High Court.

The lawyer announced that the letter that originally called for X to be banned in February has now been withdrawn, leading to the ban on the social network. The Sindh High Court sought a stand from the PTA on the issue, after which the lawyer clarified the government’s stand regarding X-axis.

As it stands, it is currently unclear whether access to X has been permanently restored or if he will be banned again. The court adjourned the hearing of other petitions related to X’s closure for two weeks.

The ban on X was originally put back in February after allegations of election rigging by a senior government official.

In the run-up to Pakistan’s February 8 general elections, citizens faced significant challenges in accessing popular social media platforms. Officials attributed the disruptions to technical glitches. However, on the very day of the election, the caretaker government imposed a complete shutdown of the internet, citing terrorism prevention as the justification.

After the polls, users continued to experience intermittent access issues, particularly with Platform X (formerly Twitter).

These restrictions raised concerns about potential violations of fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan. In particular, such shutdowns appear to contravene Article 19-A (Freedom of Information), Article 19 (Freedom of Expression) and Article 17 (Freedom of Freedom). Critics said the measures undermined the democratic process and citizens’ ability to freely access and share information at a critical time.