The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has confirmed that the ban on X, formerly known as Twitter, has been officially lifted. This announcement came after a recent hearing at the Sindh High Court where multiple petitions against the ban were discussed.
During the court session, the PTA's lawyer informed the judges that the notification imposing the ban on X had been revoked. This means that the official order banning the platform was no longer in effect. The withdrawal of this notification should have allowed access to X to be restored immediately.
However, the court wanted to know if Twitter had been made available to users following the revocation of the ban. The lawyer representing the petitioners reported to the court that despite the notification being lifted, Twitter was still not accessible to users. This raised concerns because, according to the court’s understanding, if the ban notification was removed, there should be no reason for Twitter to remain blocked.
The judges remarked that with no active notification banning X, the platform should be restored for use. They pointed out that the absence of the ban should logically mean that Twitter should now be available to everyone. The court’s comments indicated that they were puzzled by the continued inaccessibility of Twitter and expected the PTA to address this issue promptly.
Additionally, the court criticized the PTA for its handling of the legal process. It was noted that the PTA had appointed different lawyers to represent their side in each of the petitions. The court found this approach problematic, as it led to confusion about who was informed about the latest developments. Specifically, some lawyers were kept up-to-date with the changes, while others were not, leading to a situation where not all parties had the same information. This criticism was directed at the PTA for not managing the legal representation more effectively, which could have contributed to the current confusion and delay.
In response to the situation, the court decided to postpone further hearings on the other petitions related to the X ban. They adjourned these hearings for two weeks, giving time for the issues to be addressed and for the situation to be clarified. This pause allows for further investigation into why Twitter remains inaccessible despite the ban being lifted and ensures that all parties involved are properly informed and represented.
The PTA’s confirmation of lifting the ban on X was a significant step, but the ongoing inaccessibility of the platform has created an issue that needs to be resolved. The court's decision to delay further proceedings indicates that they are taking a careful approach to ensure that the problem is fully addressed and that all necessary actions are taken to restore access to X for users.
Overall, this case highlights the complexities involved in managing and lifting bans on digital platforms. It also underscores the importance of clear communication and effective legal representation to prevent and resolve issues related to such bans. The next steps will likely focus on ensuring that X becomes accessible to users as soon as possible and addressing any further legal and procedural concerns raised by the court.
