On March 20, 2025, the Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Aalia Neelum issued a final notice to the federal government, demanding an explanation for the ongoing blockage of the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) in Pakistan. This directive came during the hearing of petitions challenging the ban, which was imposed on February 17, 2024, following allegations of election rigging by former Rawalpindi commissioner Liaquat Chattha.
During the proceedings, Chief Justice Neelum expressed dissatisfaction with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman, Major General (retired) Hafeezur Rehman, over his lack of knowledge regarding the ban’s enforcement. The court highlighted inconsistencies, noting that while the platform was officially blocked, government entities, including the PTA, continued to use X through Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).
Deputy Attorney General Asad Bajwa acknowledged that the Ministry of Interior lacked mechanisms to monitor individual VPN usage, complicating enforcement efforts. The court criticized the PTA’s reliance on committees and reports, emphasizing the need for concrete actions and clear accountability.
The LHC has granted the federal government until April 8 to provide a comprehensive response. Failure to do so may result in the summoning of senior officials, including the head of the cabinet, to address the court’s concerns directly.
This development underscores the judiciary’s commitment to upholding digital rights and ensuring governmental transparency in policy enforcement.
