ISLAMABAD: A spokesperson for the Pakistan foreign office has called it “deeply concerning” that New Delhi had withheld access in India to Twitter accounts of Islamabad’s embassies in Iran, Turkey and Egypt as well as to its Permanent Mission to the United Nations.
Indian media widely reported on Monday and Tuesday that the handles had been withheld in India “in response to a legal demand,” which usually means due to an official request.
“Deeply concerning that #India has blocked flow of information to Indian @Twitter,” the Pakistani foreign office said.
The Indian government and Twitter have not yet commented on the actions, which come as Delhi police on Monday arrested the Muslim co-founder of a fact-checking website, accusing the journalist of insulting religious beliefs on Twitter.
Mohammed Zubair, who co-founded Alt News and regularly tweets on rising marginalization of the Muslim minority in the country, was arrested under two sections of a law related to maintaining religious harmony, said the DIGIPUB association.
Ten human rights organizations said on World Press Freedom Day last month that Indian authorities were increasingly picking on journalists and online critics for their criticism of government policies and practices, including by prosecuting them under counter-terrorism and sedition laws.
Indian government officials deny the charges.
