Government decides today to block social media

• Punjab calls on the central government to block access to social media platforms.
• According to sources, the Interior Minister plans to meet with the Prime Minister and discuss the issue.
• The province plans to block access from 6 to 11 Muharram.
  

ISLAMABAD: The federal government will decide on the Punjab government’s request to suspend access to social media platforms for about a week during Muharram ul Haram on security grounds, sources said Geo News Friday.

“Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi will raise the matter with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif today,” people familiar with the matter said, as the province tries to avoid any untoward situations during the religious event.

Worshippers hold processions across the country during Muharram, while religious scholars address large crowds amid tight security. Thousands of police officers are deployed to ensure security during the month.

Meanwhile, the sources said that the interior minister was not in favor of blocking social media platforms. “The meeting will decide whether the social media services will be banned or not.”

The Punjab government has cited the spread of hate material and misinformation as reasons for this move. The news reported on Friday.

According to a letter from the Punjab Home Ministry, a meeting of the Cabinet Standing Committee on Law and Order has been convened to review security and administrative arrangements for Muharram.

At this meeting, it was decided to block social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok and Instagram from 6 to 11 Muharram to prevent the spread of hate material and misinformation and thus avert sectarian violence.

The Home Ministry sent the request to the Pakistan Interior Ministry, demanding immediate action to ensure peace and security during the sensitive period of Muharram.