ISLAMABAD: The government has prohibited all government employees from accessing social media platforms, ostensibly to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of official information and documents.
As per a notification issued by the Establishment Division on September 2, no government servant is allowed to participate in any media platform without government permission.
The notification provided detailed instructions to government employees under the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 1964, regulating their participation in various media forums, including social media platforms, for compliance.
The notification added, “Rule 18 of the Rules prohibits a government servant from sharing official information or documents with another government servant, a private person, or the press.”
Citing Rule 22 of the Servant Rules, the Establishment Division states that it prohibits a government servant from making any statement of fact or opinion that could embarrass the government in any published document, press communication, public utterance, television program, or radio broadcast delivered by them.
The notification warned all government servants that breaking any of these instructions would be seen as misconduct and lead to disciplinary action under the Civil Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 2020.
Additionally, it stated that disciplinary proceedings would be initiated against serving government servants if they were administrators of a social media group where any violation occurred.
The notification further stated that Rules 21, 25, 25-A, and 25-B of the Rules prohibit a government servant from expressing views against the ideology and integrity of Pakistan or any government policy or decision.
The notification also prohibits a government servant from expressing views on any media platform that could harm national security, damage friendly relations with foreign states, offend public order, decency, or morality, or constitute contempt of court, defamation, incitement to an offense, or promote sectarian creeds.
The notification says that government servants often use social media platforms, including websites and apps where users can create and share content or join social networks, online communities, or groups.
In notification, it is said that while using various social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram, and microblogging sites, government servants often express their views on various subjects and sometimes engage in actions or behavior that do not conform to the required standards of official conduct, as outlined in the Rules.
Such actions include unauthorized relaying of official information, disseminating incorrect or misleading information, and expressing political or sectarian views. The Establishment Division has further instructed government servants not to engage in unauthorized disclosure of official information.
