X closure in Pakistan: ‘National security under threat due to content uploaded on internet,’ IHC told

The Ministry of Interior on Wednesday told the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that content uploaded on the internet is a threat to the country’s national security.

The Interior Ministry joint secretary’s comments came during a hearing on journalist Ehtesham Abbasi’s petition against the closure of X, formerly known as Twitter.

X, which is an important source of information, has been inaccessible in Pakistan to millions of users for more than a month now, since its suspension on February 17.

During today’s hearing, the Interior Ministry’s joint secretary appeared before IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq who was hearing the plea and submitted a report in the court.

The court asked if there was any written communication regarding the closure of X.

“What is this method? What is this attitude? Assist the court,” said the IHC CJ, adding that everything is closed and jammed.

The court told the joint secretary that he should give in writing what was the threat on the national security and not just verbally.

“Show us the documents. There will be no verbal conversation,” asserted Justice Farooq.

The CJ said that his secretary would make a better report than this one. At this, the joint secretary told Justice Farooq to look at the other page.

At this point, the IHC CJ asked if this was the joint secretary’s first time appearing before the court.

The secretary told the court that the content uploaded on the internet is a threat to the national security.

The court said that there must be an evidence on why X was closed on Intelligence Bureau’s (IB) report. “There are no reasons written in it, only a report based on speculation,” it added.