Picture used for representational goal.
| Photograph Credit score: Reuters

After blocking X, previously Twitter, for over 4 months, the federal government in Pakistan’s Punjab province is now set to ban all social media platforms – YouTube, WhatsApp, Fb, Instagram and TikTok – for six days between July 13 and 18, citing the necessity to management “hate materials” in the course of the Islamic month of Muharram.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s Cupboard committee on regulation and order has beneficial banning of all social media platforms – YouTube, X, WhatsApp, Fb, Instagram, and TikTok, amongst others – throughout sixth to eleventh day of Muharram (July 13-18) in Punjab, a province of over 120 million individuals, to “management hate materials, misinformation to keep away from sectarian violence”, in response to a notification issued right here late Thursday night time.

The Punjab authorities of Maryam Nawaz has additionally requested her uncle Shehbaz Sharif’s authorities on the Centre to inform the suspension of all social media platforms on web for six days (July 13-18).

Pakistan Military Chief Gen Asim Munir has already declared social media a “vicious media” and underscored the necessity to battle what he known as “digital terrorism”.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, who additionally holds the portfolio of international minister, lately known as for putting an entire ban on social media.

The Shehbaz authorities had shut down X in final February following allegations of change of common election outcomes by the Election Fee of Pakistan, apparently on the order of the army institution to cease Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s jailed founder Imran Khan from coming to energy.

Each the army and the federal government had been receiving backlash on social media for the reason that ouster of former prime minister Imran Khan by means of a no-confidence movement in April 2022.

The federal government has arrested dozens of social media activists of Khan’s celebration since then.