Pakistan blocks social media platform X over national security

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan’s Interior Ministry said on Wednesday it blocked access to social media platform X around the time of February’s election on national security concerns, confirming a long-suspected shutdown.

Users have reported problems using X, formerly known as Twitter, in Pakistan since mid-February, but the government has made no official announcements.

The Interior Ministry mentioned the shutdown in a written court submission on

Wednesday.

“It is very pertinent to mention here that the failure of Twitter/X to adhere to the lawful directives of the government of Pakistan and address concerns regarding the misuse of its platform necessitated the imposition of a ban,” said the report, seen by Reuters.

It said X had been reluctant to resolve the issue. X did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.

“The decision to impose a ban on Twitter/X in Pakistan was made in the interest of upholding national security, maintaining public order, and preserving the integrity of our nation”, the report said.

Access to X has remained limited since the February 8 national election, which the party of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan claimed was rigged.

Among Pakistan’s political parties, Khan’s party is the most prolific user of social media platforms, particularly after the country’s traditional media began censoring news about the ex-cricket star and his party ahead of the polls. Khan has over 20 million followers on X, making him the most-followed Pakistani.