
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday summoned the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan in a case pertaining to the ban on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
Access to X has been disrupted since February 17, 2024 when former Rawalpindi commissioner Liaquat Chattha accused the chief election commissioner and a top Supreme Court judge of being involved in rigging the February 8 general elections.
Rights bodies and journalists’ organisations have condemned the muzzling of social media, while internet service providers have also lamented losses due to disruptions. The United States had also called on Pakistan to lift restrictions on social media platforms.
Tuesday’s proceedings were presided over by a three-member bench headed by LHC Chief Justice Aalia Neelum. The three-member bench also included Justice Farooq Haider and Justice Ali Zia Bajwa.
The petitions against the ban have been filed by journalist Shakir Mahmood and others. The federal government, the Ministry of Law, the Ministry of Information and others had been made parties in the petitions.
In the previous hearing, the LHC had given a final opportunity to the federal government to resolve the issue of the ban on X and directed the authorities concerned to propose a solution and identify who will implement it.