Pakistan Considers Social Media Ban During Muharram

The Punjab government proposed a ban on social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, etc. from July 13th to 18th (6th to 11th of Muharram). Their goal is to curb the spread of hate speech and misinformation that could lead to sectarian violence. The federal government has not made a final decision yet on social media ban.

The Punjab government has recommended banning social media for six days during Muharram. This proposal aims to prevent the spread of hate speech and misinformation that could lead to sectarian violence. The suggested social media ban would last from the 6th to the 11th of Muharram. The final decision will be made by the federal government.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s cabinet committee on law and order recommended this ban. They believe it is necessary to control the spread of “hate material” and misinformation, aiming to prevent sectarian violence. This decision follows an earlier successful block of X by the government for over four months. They highlighted that most harmful content is spread through social media apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, X (Twitter), and TikTok.

Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir has called social media a “vicious media” and emphasized the need to combat what he describes as “digital terrorism.” Deputy prime minister Ishaq Dar, who also serves as the foreign minister, recently called for a complete ban on social media.

The Punjab government also plans to increase security during this period. They have received intelligence about potential threats from outside the country that could disrupt peace. Initially, the government considered banning social media only on the 9th and 10th of Muharram. However, due to the severity of the threats, they decided on more stringent measures.

The ban will specifically affect Punjab, a province with over 120 million people. The government hopes this measure will help maintain peace and order during the significant religious period of Muharram, which coincides with the dates of the ban.

This call reflects ongoing concerns about the impact of digital platforms on national security and public order. The final call on the social media ban rests with the federal authorities.