Home / International / Social media access partially restored in Pakistan after blockage to ‘maintain public order’
Social media access partially restored in Pakistan after blockage to ‘maintain public order’International 2021-04-16, by Editor Comments Off 0
The Ministry of Interior on Friday directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to temporarily block access to social media platforms Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube and Telegram from 11am to 3pm.
“It is requested that immediate action may be taken on the subject matter,” the ministry directed the PTA chairman.
Shortly after, the PTA released an official statement saying: “In order to maintain public order and safety, access to certain social media applications has been restricted temporarily.”
Prime Minister Imran Khan has paid tribute to the police personnel who were martyred in the violence during TLP protests. APP/File
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday lauded the services of police for dealing with the organised violence perpetrated by activists of the recently proscribed Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) across the country this week.
In a tweet, the premier also announced that the government would look after the families of the four police personnel martyred during the violence. I want to pay special tribute to our police force for their heroic stand against organised violence intended to create chaos to blackmail [the] government, he wrote, noting that four policemen were martyred and more than 600 injured during the unrest.
Police use tear gas to disperse supporters of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) during a protest in Lahore on Monday. AFP
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has banned the television and radio coverage of the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) after it was declared a proscribed entity by the government, it emerged on Friday.
In a communique sent to all satellite TV channels and FM radio stations, a copy of which is available with
Dawn.com, the authority referred to the Ministry of Interior s notification in which it said the government has declared Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan as a proscribed organisation for being engaged in act of terrorism, [and] acting in a manner prejudicial to the peace and security of the country .
Islamabad: The Pakistan government has issued a notification to ban the ultra right-wing Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) party under the anti-terrorism laws. The country’s interior ministry issued a notification declaring TLP as a proscribed organisation after the federal cabinet approved a summary to ban the party.
The federal government said that it has “reasonable grounds to believe that the TLP is engaged in terrorism and [has] acted in a manner prejudicial to the peace and security of the country, [was] involved in creating anarchy in the country by intimidating the public, caused grievous bodily harm, hurt and death to the personnel of law enforcement agencies and innocent by-standers, attacked civilians and officials.”
Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan has temporarily blocked Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp and some other social media services across the country as part of a security crackdown on a far-right religious party, officials say.
The temporary ban blocked all access to social media platforms Facebook, Twitter and YouTube and messaging apps Whatsapp and Telegram across the country starting at 11:00am local time (06:00 GMT) on Friday, an interior ministry official said.
“This was imposed in anticipation of [Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan or TLP] protests and their penetration in the social media [is very high],” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Press Release: In order to maintain public order and safety, access to certain social media applications has been restricted temporarily.