While taking final decision on Friday in response to Punjab government to ban the social media during Muharram, federal government disallowed suspension social media applications and switching off mobile phone signals during Muharram ‘to maintain peace.’
A day ago, the Punjab government has requested the centre to suspend social media apps Facebook, TikTok, X (Twitter) and WhatsApp from Muharram 6 to 11 after receiving information of subversive activities from across the border.
According to sources, the federal government has turned down the request and directed the authorities concerned to make foolproof security arrangements during Muharram. However, it allowed to turn off mobile phone signals only in those places where processions and gatherings are held.
The Punjab government has recommended to the federal interior secretary to ban social media from 6th to 11th Muharram to control spread of hate material and misinformation to avoid sectarian violence.
It is learnt that the Punjab government has decided to tighten security arrangements along with suspending the social media during Muharram.
According to sources, the provincial government had decided “extraordinary” measures to suspend internet and mobile jamming for Ashura after receiving information of “across border elements attempts” to disrupt peace in the country.
On the other hand, the Standing Committee of Cabinet on Law and Order (SCCLO) and the Punjab Home Department said that shutting down internet would cause problems for the general public, while most misinformation and hate material was disseminated through social media apps, which could be used even when internet services remain suspended.
However, the provincial Home Department wrote a letter to the interior ministry’s secretary after a meeting recommending suspension of “social media applications Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, X (Twitter), TikTok, etc. across the province from Muharram 6 to 11 to control hate material, misinformation and to avoid sectarian violence”.
Sources said that the Punjab government had initially planned suspension of social media days of Ashura –Muharram 9 and 10. However, the information from intelligence agencies forced it to go for more stringent measures to maintain law and order during the holy month. The final decision of the ban was upto decison of the federal government in the matter.
