LAHORE: On Sunday, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) vehemently objected to a Senate resolution that aimed to outlaw social media sites altogether and forewarned the upper house’s members that such “ill-judged” actions would infringe upon people’s fundamental right to free speech.
The HRCP statement was released the day after Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi filed a resolution in which he demanded that Facebook, X, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube be completely banned because he believed they would be harmful to the next generation.
“First of all, this kind of resolution is both absurd and unworkable. It is ironic that political parties, state institutions, government representatives, and legislators—including Senator Bahramand Tangi, who moved this resolution—continue to use social media platform X through virtual private networks (VPNs) despite it being closed down since February 17. HRCP Chairman Asad Iqbal Butt made this statement in a statement.
Second, the HRCP stated that having access to social media has enabled regular people to engage in information exchange, make a living, advocate for their rights and liberties, hold public officials responsible, and organize around social and political issues. Mr. Butt stated, “Any attempt to completely restrict digital freedoms betrays a shocking ignorance of how modern democracies and economies function.”
Lastly, even before the elections of 2024, governments have routinely and unilaterally blocked social media accounts due to “security concerns.” He continued, “There is no evidence to suggest that taking this action has made society any safer.
