The parliamentary assembly was addressed on Wednesday by the Minister of State for Information Technology (IT) Shaza Fatima, who stated that national security was the top priority of the government. She further explained the suspension of any internet services, as well as blocking X (formerly Twitter), by emphasizing that less than two percent of Pakistan’s population uses that platform.
“Cyber-attacks can always be expected from the enemy, and it is our responsibility to protect from them,” she explained. “The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has to take care about sensitive content on religious and social issues, as such material causes hate and division in the society. It is more important to ensure the protection of our citizens.”
Also Read: Pakistan Successfully Repays $2 Billion in Loans, Sees Economic Growth
Reiterating the importance of national security, Shaza stated, “There is nothing more important than protecting the nation. The regulatory system is activated in response to security concerns. I don’t have a single button to shut down the internet, nor do we derive any pleasure or benefit from these actions.”.
There should not be any users in the country that face problems with limited internet suspension service to concrete locations only, based on the data received from provincial home offices. “We try to limit the effect on the users of technology. I certainly apologize for the inconvenience that might result”, he added.
The state minister also stressed the safeguard of the nation from cyber-attacks that would now safeguard national data. “X was shut down on the Interior Ministry’s instructions and not as an attack on freedom of expression. If that were the goal, platforms like TikTok and Facebook would have been targeted as well,” she remarked.
Shaza also spoke about government-related criticism saying, “The language used against us is offensive, however we will continue to serve security and harmony in the country.”