The Ministry of Interior informed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday that content posted on the internet poses a threat to the country’s national security. The statement was made during a hearing on journalist Ehtesham Abbasi’s petition against the closure of X, previously known as Twitter. X has been inaccessible in Pakistan for over a month since its suspension on February 17.
During the hearing, the Interior Ministry’s joint secretary presented a report to IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq. The court inquired about any written communication regarding X’s closure, expressing concern over the lack of transparency.
The court emphasized the need for documented evidence of the threat to national security, rather than verbal statements. It criticized the closure of X based solely on an Intelligence Bureau (IB) report without providing specific reasons.
Justice Farooq requested other court rulings related to the matter and summoned the interior secretary for April 17. He expressed frustration over the lack of clarity in the proceedings and suggested resolving the issue promptly.
The joint secretary urged the court not to summon higher officials, requesting another chance to address the matter. The court agreed to await the interior secretary’s appearance before considering further action.
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