Punjab for banning social media for six days during Muharram

LAHORE: The Punjab government has sent recommendations to the Federal Interior Secretary to ban social media from 6th to 11th Muharram to control hate material, misinformation to avoid sectarian violence.

According to media reports, the Punjab government has decided to ban the social media along with tightening the security arrangements during Muharram.

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In this regard, a letter has been sent to the Federal Interior Secretary to ban social media apps from 6th to 11th Muharram.

The Punjab government has sent recommendations to ban Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram and YouTube. The government has recommended that WhatsApp should also be blocked.

Punjab government had initially deliberated that social media apps be shut down on Muharram 9 and 10. However, the information explained that there were more factors than what was meeting the eye as there were reports of sharing of hate material and memes from cross-border as well as funding — allegedly to create a law and order. “Simple suspension of internet and mobile jamming may not work in the current circumstances,” 

The final decision of the ban will be taken by the federal government.