Restoration of Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has resumed services for social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube after suspending them for almost a week.
The suspension of mobile broadband and restricted access to these social media sites occurred after violent protests broke out in the country due to the arrest of Imran Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party. The Interior Ministry recommended the suspension of internet services, which is the longest such continuous shutdown in a country that often suspends communications to control unrest. During the protests, at least 10 people were killed, and dozens of others sustained injuries.
According to reports, the telecom sector has suffered a significant setback due to the suspension of internet services, resulting in an estimated loss of approximately Rs820 million in revenue for the operators.
Amnesty International has expressed concern over the situation and urged Pakistan authorities to lift the restrictions on internet services. Rimmel Mohydin, the South Asian campaigner at Amnesty International, stressed that the government must exercise restraint and use minimum force without resorting to the use of firearms to disperse protesters. The immediate lifting of restrictions on social media platforms is necessary to prevent other human rights violations from occurring in the shadow of internet shutdowns. Such bans create a permissive environment that allows such violations to take place.
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The use of communication suspensions as a tool to quell unrest is a recurring practice in Pakistan. However, it violates people’s right to access information and free expression. The government should address the root cause of the unrest and strive to defuse the situation. Excessive use of force will only exacerbate the situation and lead to further human rights violations.
The resumption of social media services is a step towards restoring normalcy, but the government must take measures to prevent such situations from occurring in the future and promote an environment where freedom of expression and access to information are safeguarded.
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