Punjab Government Recommends Six-Day Social Media Ban During Muharram

LAHORE (Dunya News): The Punjab government has proposed a six-day ban on social media platforms from the 6th to the 11th of Muharram. This measure aims to curb the spread of hate speech and misinformation that could incite sectarian violence during the holy month.

The recommendation was made to the federal interior secretary as part of heightened security measures. The provincial government decided to suspend social media as part of their "extraordinary" security protocols, which also include internet and mobile service jamming during Ashura. This decision follows intelligence reports suggesting that elements from across the border might attempt to disrupt peace.

The Standing Committee of Cabinet on Law and Order (SCCLO) and the Punjab Home Department acknowledged that a complete internet shutdown would inconvenience the public. They noted that most harmful misinformation and hate content is spread through social media apps, which can still be accessed even when general internet services are down.

Despite these concerns, the provincial Home Department sent a formal recommendation to the federal interior ministry to suspend social media applications like Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, X (Twitter), and TikTok during the specified period. 

Initially, the Punjab government considered suspending social media only on the key days of Ashura—Muharram 9 and 10. However, based on intelligence inputs, the decision was extended to cover a longer period to ensure better control over potential threats.

The final decision on the proposed ban rests with the federal government.