PTA Withdraws Notification to Shut Down ‘X’, But Users Still Face Access Issues

The Sindh High Court (SHC) heard petitions challenging the suspension of ‘X’, formerly known as Twitter, across Pakistan. During the proceedings, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) confirmed that it had officially withdrawn the notification that led to the platform’s shutdown.

PTA’s lawyer, Saad Siddiqui, informed the court that the authority had rescinded the order, implying that access to ‘X’ should now be restored. However, Moeez Jafri, representing the petitioners, argued that despite this, users across the country were still unable to access the platform.

The court asked for clarification on why access to ‘X’ had not been restored if the notification was withdrawn. Another PTA representative, however, claimed he had no knowledge of the specific withdrawal, leading to further confusion in the courtroom. The court expressed its frustration, pointing out that PTA had assigned different lawyers to different petitions, resulting in miscommunication and lack of coordination. It reiterated that with no active notification, the platform should be fully restored, ordering the PTA to resolve the issue promptly.

This confusion highlights the ongoing challenges of digital rights and access in Pakistan, with citizens left in limbo regarding the status of one of the most widely used social media platforms.