Govt orders temporary social media shutdown

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has temporarily shut down all social media platforms in the country for a few hours.

The blocked social media websites and apps include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.

According to the reports, social media sites will remain blocked in Pakistan till 4 pm on Friday.

“As per the Govt authorities, Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok and Telegram Services will remain suspended from 11am to 4pm,” according to a message sent by the ISP.

The decision was taken to maintain law and order following violent protests by a banned religious party.

The Pakistan government banned radical Islamist party Tehreek-i-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) under the Anti-Terrorism Act after its supporters clashed with law enforcement agencies. The clashes continued on Wednesday for the third consecutive day, leaving seven people dead and more than 300 policemen injured.

Supporters and workers of the party have reportedly been carrying out violent protests across the country after the arrest of their chief Saad Rizvi.

The TLP is protesting against the arrest of their leader Saad Hussain Rizvi, who was taken into custody earlier this week. The supporters and workers of the party are also protesting against the blasphemous caricatures published in France.

They have demanded that the French ambassador be sent home and import of goods from that country banned, as reported by Dawn. According to media reports, the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government signed an agreement with the TLP in November last agreeing to expel the French Ambassador.