Govt to decide social media suspension today – M Haris

• Punjab asks Centre to suspend access to social media platforms.
• Interior minister set to meet PM and discuss issue, say sources.
• Province wants access blocked from Muharram 6 to 11.
  

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

“Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi will present the issue before Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif today,” people aware of the matter said, as the province seeks to avoid untoward situations during the religious event.

Faithful hold processions across the country in Muharram, while religious scholars address huge gatherings amid tight security, with thousands of law enforcers deployed to ensure the security during the month.

The sources, meanwhile, said that the interior minister is not in favour of suspending social media platforms. “The meeting will decide whether or not the social media services will be banned.”

The Punjab government has cited spread of hate material and misinformation as reasons behind the move, The News reported Friday.

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

In this meeting, it was decided to suspend social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok and Instagram from Muharram 6 to 11 to prevent the dissemination of hate material and misinformation, aiming to avert sectarian violence.

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