LHC gives Pakistani government final chance on X ban

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has given the Pakistani government a final chance to address the ban on X, previously known as Twitter. The court is demanding a solution and wants to know who will carry it out. Chief Justice Aalia Neelum warned the chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Hafeezur Rehman, that he may face contempt charges. During the court session, Deputy Attorney General Asad Ali Bajwa revealed that the government does not have a formal agreement with X. The court questioned the absence of this agreement and how X would be able to provide necessary information. Bajwa also mentioned there is no monitoring system for government use of X. Justice Ali Zia Bajwa asked how the PTA would take action against accounts that violate restrictions. The PTA's lawyer, Muhammad Afzaal, noted the difficulty in confirming account ownership. The court also learned that the PTA uses virtual private networks (VPNs) to access X, leading to discontent from the Chief Justice regarding the chairman's earlier statements. The judges emphasized that while specific content could be blocked, the platform itself should not be banned. The Chief Justice asked for clarity on who should be summoned next to find a solution and hinted that a contempt notice may be necessary for the PTA chairman. The hearing will continue on April 8, providing authorities one last chance to propose a solution. A petition claims the government imposed unlawful restrictions on social media, affecting citizens' rights to information, and asks the court to lift these bans.