Pakistan crisis intensifies! Social media suspended after mass movements go out of control
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Islamabad, Apr 16: Pakistan govt has suspended social media platforms Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram from 11 am till 3 pm, the interior ministry said on Apr 16. The ministry has said that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority had suspended the social media platforms on its instructions.
The immediate reason for the suspension of services was not clear as of yet. The action was taken after a letter was sent to the PTA chairman by the interior ministry. The ministry, in the letter, had requested the PTA to take action against the issue "immediately". Abdul Razaq, the Section officer of the ministry wrote in the letter, "I am directed to refer to the subject cited above and to state that complete access to social media platforms may be blocked from 11 am to 3 pm on April 16 2021, across the country."
He further added, "It is requested that immediate action may be taken on the subject matter under the information to this ministry." Thus, in order to maintain public order and safety, access to certain social media applications has been restricted temporarily.
The decision is taken while the Islamic country is suffering from an administrative setback of the TLP protestingagainst the arrest of their leader Saad Hussain Rizvi, who was taken into custody earlier this week. The protests have turned violent and several casualties have already been reported. The demonstrators have demanded that the French ambassador be sent home and import of goods from that country banned.
The Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf govt signed an agreement with the TLP in Nov 2020, last agreeing to expel the French Ambassador. The TLP launched a massive protest in Nov 2020, but dispersed after the agreement with the govt to expel the Ambassador by Feb 2021. The deal has now been extended until Apr 20, which has resulted into public outburst of TLP supporters leading to violent mass protests that the Pakistani authorities are unable to control.