Tech Desk 
Dec 10, 2024
Regarding the allegedly illegitimate ban on the popular social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the Islamabad High Court (IHC) is set to hear a petition seeking to overturn the restriction.
According to a statement from the IHC, the hearing is scheduled to be presided over by chief justice Amir Farooq on February 6, 2025.
Previously, the case challenging the ban was heard on April 17, with two subsequent hearings on June 2 and 11 being postponed.
Citing sources, Geo.tv reported that the IHC chief justice directed the rescheduling of the hearing for a date after the winter vacation concludes, leading the IHC registrar's office to schedule the hearing on the aforementioned date.
The development comes on the heels of Federal Minister Attaullah Tarar attributing the ban to national security issues, stating that the ban was not imposed to curb freedom of expression.
Talking to an international media outlet, the minister refuted the ban to be an unannounced one, claiming that the interim government banned X ahead of the February elections due to compliance issues.
In an interview with Voice of America, he stated that "separatists and terrorists" were using the platform to conduct anti-state activities in Pakistan, pointing to the members of the so-called Balochistan Liberation Army who, as he explained, were using the platform to further their anti-state activities.
