ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Friday declined the provincial governments’ request to ban social media during certain days of Muharram-ul-Haram, as per private media report.
According to the report, the provincial governments of Punjab, Sindh, KPK, and Balochistan had urged the federal government to prohibit social media for security reasons.
“The Interior Ministry emphasized the need for enhanced security measures,” stating that mobile signals would be restricted in specific areas hosting processions and majalis.
Previously, provincial governments had sent letters to the Federal Interior Secretary requesting the suspension of social media services in the province from the 6th to the 11th of Muharram.
The recommendation followed the decision of the Cabinet’s Standing Committee on Peace and Order.
The proposed ban covers widely-used social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter, and TikTok.
Apart from notifying the Federal Interior Secretary, the Punjab Home Department also informed the Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the Inspector General (IG) of Punjab, and the Additional IGs of the Special Branch and Counter Terrorism Department (CTD).
It is important to mention that the federal government will make the final decision regarding the implementation of this social media ban.
