KARACHI: A high court in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province observed on Tuesday that prima facie, social media was being “managed” in the South Asian country, amid a weeks-long disruption in service of X and complaints about slow Internet speed.
The remarks by the chief justice of the Sindh High Court (SHC) came during hearing of multiple petitions filed in the court with regard to the disruption of X and slow Internet in the country.
X first went down on Feb. 17 when a senior government official publicly confessed to manipulating results of Feb. 8 general election in a few constituencies. Since then, netizens have experienced sporadic disruptions in X service.
In its response to the petitions, a lawyer representing the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) said they did not have the equipment to slow down the Internet, while the interior and telecom ministries sought more time to submit their replies.
“Prima facie, social media is being managed, but who is doing it will also come out,” Chief Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi said, in his remarks during the hearing.
“People listen to journalists who can’t say something on national TV (television) due to some reasons and express their opinions through social media, and this happens across the world.”
The court served notices to PTA chairman and other officials on lawyer Jibran Nasir’s petition seeking contempt of court proceedings against the PTA chief over his failure to improve X and Internet services.
The hearing of the case was adjourned till March 20.
Pakistan’s national election last month was marred by a mobile Internet shutdown on the election day and unusually delayed results, leading to widespread accusations that it was rigged.
Several political parties, including former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and candidates have since held protest demonstrations against the results. In recent weeks, the disruption in X service was observed on a number of occasions when protests were called by political parties against alleged vote manipulation.
The disruption has raised widespread concerns about the state of democratic freedoms in Pakistan, with the United States and several international organizations urging authorities to provide unhindered Internet access and leading digital rights activists calling the blockade a “blatant violation” of civil liberties.
Amid X disruption, court says prima facie social media being ‘managed’ in Pakistan
https://arab.news/85ggr
Amid X disruption, court says prima facie social media being ‘managed’ in Pakistan
- X first went down on Feb. 17 when an official confessed to manipulating Feb. 8 vote results
- Since then, netizens have experienced sporadic disruptions in X service amid political protests
Pakistan, Indonesia agree to establish joint trade committee to deepen economic partnership
- Both countries last month signed seven agreements to deepen cooperation in trade, higher education, halal certification and health
- Pakistan intends to organize a Single-Country Exhibition and Business Forum in Jakarta, with invitations extended to ASEAN members
KARACHI: Pakistan and Indonesia further strengthened their economic partnership with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the establishment of the Indonesia–Pakistan Joint Trade Committee (JTC) to enhance dialogue, facilitate cooperation and jointly address opportunities and challenges in bilateral trade, the Pakistani commerce ministry said on Saturday.
The development comes a month after both countries signed seven memoranda of understanding to deepen cooperation in trade, higher education, halal certification and health during Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s two-day visit to Islamabad.
The MoU was signed following successful high-level talks led by Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan and visiting Indonesian Vice Minister of Trade Ms. Dyah Roro Esty Widya Putri, reflecting a shared commitment to deepening economic ties.
Khan underscored Indonesia’s strategic importance within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and highlighting its potential role as a regional hub for fostering trilateral and regional economic cooperation.
“Pakistan could serve as a reliable source for minerals, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and agri-food commodities for the Indonesian market,” he was quoted as saying.
Last month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan’s bilateral trade with Indonesia stood at $4.5 billion, with more than 90 percent of it comprising palm oil imports from Indonesia. He said both sides discussed “corrective measures” to balance this trade during President Subianto’s visit to Islamabad.
Commerce Minister Khan conveyed Pakistan’s intention to organize a Single-Country Exhibition and Business Forum in Jakarta, with invitations to be extended to ASEAN member states aimed at showcasing Pakistani products and strengthening regional business linkages, according to the commerce ministry.
The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) sought Indonesian facilitation for the early announcement of fruit import quotas, rationalization of certification requirements for Pakistani exports, notification of rice import quotas, and improved market access for industrial-grade potatoes from Pakistan.
“Both sides agreed to work jointly toward expanding the existing Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), with the shared objective of progressing toward a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to unlock greater trade and investment opportunities,” the commerce ministry added.
