Journalist Mehreen Zahra-Malik calls out IT minister's 'maddening' use of X

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 26 November 2024 |  JP Staff Report

Mehreen Zahra-Malik condemned IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja for using X, a banned platform, to criticize the PTI's political campaign. Her remarks highlight concerns about the government's inconsistent enforcement of digital restrictions in Pakistan.

Summary

ISLAMABAD—Mehreen Zahra-Malik, editor of Arab News in Pakistan, on Tuesday expressed her frustration over Federal IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja's use of the banned platform X (formerly Twitter) to declare the failure of the PTI's campaign for the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

In her post on X, Mehreen highlighted the irony of the IT minister utilizing a platform restricted by her government. "It's especially maddening to see the 'IT Minister' using X—an app she has banned—to tweet against political opponents," she wrote, referencing the ongoing political and digital crackdown in Pakistan.

X has been officially banned in Pakistan since February 17, 2024, with access restricted to Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) users. Despite the prohibition, the platform has functioned without a VPN in some instances, raising questions about the consistency of the ban and its enforcement.

Mehreen's comments reflect a broader frustration with the government's policies on digital freedoms, particularly during a time of heightened political tensions and limitations on free expression.