X ban may be lifted if social media rules framed: Azma Bukhari

Published August 3, 2024
Punjab Inf­ormation Minister Azma Bokhari speaks to media in Lahore on Aug 2, 2024. — DawnNewsTV
Punjab Inf­ormation Minister Azma Bokhari speaks to media in Lahore on Aug 2, 2024. — DawnNewsTV

LAHORE: Punjab Inf­ormation Minister Azma Bokhari has said the government may lift the ban on X (formerly Twitter) if social media rules and regulations are framed.

“We are not against social media, but we are talking about rules and regulations. If the (social media) rules and regulations are made, the ban on X will be removed,” Ms Bokhari told journalists here on Friday.

The Shehbaz government had shut down X in February this year following allegations of change of general election results by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

The federal government, however, had defended the ban on the popular social media platform, saying that the move was “legitimate” when it came to addressing national security concerns.

Ms Bokhari further said that many countries had laws governing social media. “In every country laws are made to solve the problems and freedom of expression is abused. There are distorted traditions in our society,” she said and added the social media accounts were regulated all over the world.

Punjab minister says govt backs ‘regulated’ social media

Digital terrorism is carried out through social media accounts. All accou­nts must be governed by the rules and regulations,” the minister declared.

About the PTI’s incarcerated founder, Ms Bokhari said: “Imran Khan is mentally disturbed in jail. On the one hand, he is saying that the army should appoint its representative for talks with the PTI, and on the other, he is saying that Mohsin Naqvi is the representative of the army.”

She said, “Imran Khan should apologise first [over May 9 incidents]. Let him first admit that they have done all this and he has made a mistake.”

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2024

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.