Amnesty International calls on Pakistan’s government to restore X

WEB DESK: Amnesty International has demanded the immediate reinstatement of social media giant X, formerly Twitter, 29 days after its access was abruptly halted by the government.

The human rights organisation, in collaboration with 28 civil society groups, issued a joint statement urging Pakistani authorities to honour the nation’s international human rights commitments by preserving the rights to freedom of expression and access to information.

How is X (Twitter) access being blocked in Pakistan?

The international rights organisation also posted the statement on their X account.

The rights body expressed deep concern over the recent surge in internet shutdowns and social media censorship, particularly surrounding the country’s general elections.

The coalition of activists and organisations highlighted the prolonged blocking of X, which began on Feb 17 without prior notice, and spoke on the detrimental impact on genuine political discourse and the diversity of voices within Pakistan. Amnesty International’s statement emphasised that such actions not only stifle political expression but also foster an environment conducive to the spread of misinformation.

The statement also stressed the necessity of ensuring the free flow of information for an informed society and fair electoral processes. The absence of transparency in decision-making processes, coupled with the lack of accountability, has led to a significant erosion of trust between the state and its citizens.

Furthermore, the coalition expressed dismay over reports of VPN throttling, which undermines individuals’ access to information and right to privacy. Calling for immediate action to reverse the course of digital censorship in Pakistan, the statement urged the government to unblock X without delay and repeal laws enabling censorship, such as Section 37 of PECA, which violate fundamental rights.

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Demanding transparency in decision-making processes impacting internet freedom, the coalition called for clarity on the legal basis for the recent blocking of X and other affected platforms. Additionally, it urged the government to refrain from future actions obstructing the free flow of information and to withdraw legislative proposals expanding internet censorship.

The said statement was signed by a diverse range of organisations, including Amnesty International, Pakistan Bar Council, PFUJ, AGHS, Bolo Bhi, and Reporters Without Borders, among others.