Pakistan: CSOs, rights activists express concern over X disruption; call on telecom regulator for transparency

Civil society organisations and rights activists have released a joint statement expressing concern over continuing disruption of X (formerly Twitter) and arbitrary targeting of other digital media platforms in Pakistan. 

The statement, which is available with Digital Rights Monitor (DRM), has been signed by over 60 CSOs, rights advocates, and journalists, and highlights the adverse impact of growing digital censorship in the country. It calls on the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to issue clarification regarding the prolonged disruption of X, which has been facing an unexplained intermittent ban since February 17, 2024. Signatories include Media Matters for Democracy (MMfD), Digital Rights Foundation (DRF), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), and Access Now.

Citing the frequent internet shutdowns and blocking of social media platforms in the weeks leading up to the February 8 general elections, CSOs and rights activists say that such actions silence diverse political voices and contribute to the spread of misinformation.

“These actions not only infringe upon the fundamental rights of freedom of expression and access to information but also set a troubling precedent of throttling genuine political discourse in the country,” the statement reads.

The suppression of social media platforms undermines Pakistan’s international law commitments, the statement adds, stressing the significance of free flow of information for an “informed society and fair electoral processes”.

The statement calls the lack of response on X’s disruption from the PTA “extremely alarming”.

“The absence of transparency in the decision-making processes surrounding network shutdowns and platform blocking and complete disregard for any accountability has resulted in an obvious erosion of trust between the state and its citizens,” it says.

It also expresses disappointment over reports of blocking of VPNs (virtual private networks), which undermines people’s right to access to information and privacy online.

The CSOs and rights activists have urged the government and public entities to repeal Section 37 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 — commonly known as PECA — as such pieces of legislation enable digital censorship and violate Article 19 (Freedom of Speech and Right to information) of the Constitution of Pakistan.

They have called on the government to abide by Pakistan’s commitments to uphold freedom of expression and the right to access to information under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

“We urge the incoming government, regulators and other public bodies to recognise that any action that affects the flow of information and limits citizen’s ability to express themselves, has a direct and lingering impact on citizen’s human rights including the right to political participation,” the statement says.

List of Signatories (as of March 18, 2024)

Organisations 

1. AGHS
2. Bolo Bhi
3. Media Matters for Democracy (MMfD)
4. Digital Rights Foundation (DRF)
5. Institute for Research, Advocacy and Development (IRADA)
6. Human Rights Watch (HRW)
7. Freedom Network (FN)
8. Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
9. Bytes for All
10. Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP)
11. Women Democratic Front
12. Access Now
13. Awami Workers Party Islamabad/Rawalpindi
14. Aurat March Lahore
15. Digital Media Alliance of Pakistan (DigiMAP)
16. Alliance for Diversity and Pluralism in Media in Pakistan
17. Pakistan Digital Editors Alliance (PDEA)
18. Pakistan Digital Media Association
19. Progressive Students Federation
20. Aurat March Islamabad
21. Joint Action Committee for Refugees ( JAC-R) 
22. Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum 
23. Aurat March Karachi
24. Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
25. Zuka Books
26. Amnesty International
27. Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists 
28. Pakistan Bar Council

Individuals 

1. Muhammad Aftab Alam, Advocate 
2. Iqbal Khattak, veteran journalist
3. Adnan Rehmat, media analyst 
4. Shafique Chaudhry, Executive Director, Parliamentarians Commission for Human Rights (PCHR)
5. Haroon Baloch, Media & Digital Rights Expert
6. Usama Khilji, Bolo Bhi
7. Zoya Rehman, Women Democratic Front
8. Abdullah Nizamani, Lawyer
9. Zohra Yusuf, Council member HRCP
10. Salima Hashmi, Council member HRCP
11. Imdad Khoso, Journalist & Council member HRCP
12. Ammar Rashid, Awami Workers Party
13. Zeeshan Ahmed, Awami Workers Party
14. Amber Rahim Shamsi, Journalist & Director CEJ
15. Munizae Jahangir, Co Chair HRCP & Founder voicepk.net
16. Ms Afia Salam, veteran journalist
17. Ramsha Jahangir, Journalist 
18. Najma Maheshwari, Hindu activist 
19. Jehan Ara, Founder & CEO Katalyst Labs
20. Uzair Younus, Economic Analyst 
21. Hamid Mir, Journalist 
22. Asma Shirazi, Journalist 
23. Aun Ahmed, Progressive Students Federation
24. Maria Memon, Journalist
25. Absa Komal, Journalist 
26. Atiqa Shahid, Gender researcher
27. Raza Mahmood Khan, Peace activist
28. Azeem Ullah Minhas, HRCP activist
29. Saleem Malik, HRCP activist
30. Jawziya Zaman, Writer & Editor 
31. Hija Kamran, Digital Rights Specialist
32. Nida Tanweer, HR activists. 
33. Usman Zafar, journalist and researcher 
34. Moniza Kakar , Lawyer & HRD
35. Asfandyar Farrukh, MD Urban Brands
36. Arifa Noor, Dawn News 
37. Areeba Fatima, Journalist & Socialist-Feminist
38. Samar Abbas, Lawyer
39. Mahim Maher, journalist 
40. Rahim Sajwani, video editor 
41. Zia Ur Rehman, journalist and researcher 
42. Taqi Shaheen, Artist
43. Naila Raheem, HRCP 
44. Aliya Syed, HRCP
45. Mehr F Husain, editor and publisher
46. Sophia Hasnain 
47. Abid Saqi, Senior Lawyer & Former Vice Chairperson Pakistan Bar Council 
48. Mubariz Ahmed Siddiqui, lawyer
49. Aly Fahd, Paklaunch
50. Taimur Malik, Paklaunch