PTA Chair Asserts X Shutdown Decision Lies with Government

The Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Major General (retired) Hafeezur Rehman, announced that the authority is prepared to restore access to the social media platform X (previously known as Twitter) as soon as the government gives the go-ahead.

In a statement made in Islamabad on Tuesday, Rehman remarked, “If the government or the Ministry of Interior instructs us to block X, we are obligated to comply without questioning their orders. We’re ready to reinstate the platform the moment we receive the green light from the government.”

Rehman pointed out that internet restrictions aren’t exclusive to Pakistan, citing instances from across Asia. “A quick search on Google will reveal that India imposed internet shutdowns 24 times in 2022, while Pakistan did so only once. In 2023, India’s tally rose to 116 shutdowns. We’ve even seen incidents in France, where the internet was disrupted for several days following recent events. Bangladesh also experienced internet blackouts during its last elections. While we do not support these measures, every nation faces security challenges that the government must tackle. Ensuring national security is essential.”

The chairman addressed the ongoing internet blackout in Panjgur, Balochistan, saying, “When inquired about the shutdown in Panjgur, I advised consulting the respective corps commander or the Ministry of Interior. We will lift the restrictions as soon as we are directed since decisions related to national security lie with the government and the Ministry of Interior.”

Rehman emphasized that the PTA has a strong complaint resolution system in place. “We receive numerous complaints every day. Whenever there is a breach on social media, we assess it in accordance with the PECA law and other applicable regulations. Social media platforms work with us effectively, and we boast a compliance rate of 93%.”

He clarified that security agencies have never formally requested the PTA to shut down internet services or social media. “Such directives typically come from the courts or the Ministry of Interior. For instance, during the MDCAT exams, we received a request to suspend internet services, which we declined. The same occurred with a request from the FPSC, which we also turned down.”

Concerning a request from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to block SIM cards, Rehman stated that the PTA rejected it. “As a regulatory body, we refused this request. During a meeting with the finance minister, he expressed his dissatisfaction, but we stood firm. The FBR eventually negotiated with telecom companies to address the matter on their own. Additionally, we dismissed a recent request to link SIM cards with national ID cards, reinforcing our clear stance.”

He further mentioned that the upcoming 5G auction in April is expected to address numerous challenges, and the expansion of fiber optics will enhance connectivity. “India has invested $13 billion in fiber installation over the past five years. Pakistan is also developing its National Fiber Plan, with a Chinese company already established here. We anticipate significant advancements in fiber rollout next year, and our preparations for 5G are progressing well.”