Senator Bahramand Tangi, a member of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), has introduced a resolution in the Senate advocating for a permanent prohibition on social media platforms. Scheduled for discussion in the forthcoming Monday session, the resolution aims to address what Senator Tangi perceives as a mounting concern regarding the exploitation of social media for disseminating detrimental propaganda against the Pakistan Army, thereby undermining the nation’s interests.
Senator Tangi’s resolution asserts that social media is increasingly being used to propagate negative narratives and misinformation detrimental to the Pakistan Army, posing a threat to the country’s stability. Moreover, he expresses apprehension regarding the adverse effects of social media on the impressionable youth of Pakistan, contending that it promotes ideas contrary to the nation’s religious and cultural values.
The resolution explicitly accuses certain factions of exploiting various social media platforms to spread fake news and misinformation, thereby deceiving the populace, particularly the younger generation. It recommends the implementation of a ban on major social media platforms, including Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter), and YouTube.
Senator Tangi argues that such a ban is necessary to shield the youth from the negative influences of social media platforms, which he believes perpetuate detrimental ideologies and undermine the country’s interests.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has voiced concerns over the misuse of social media and hinted at forthcoming regulations to address this issue on last friday. Kakar emphasized the need to establish a “national firewall” through technological means to mitigate the negative impacts of social media.
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Reflecting on recent events, Kakar condemned the May 9 incidents, stating that they were an assault on the concept of the Pakistani state. While acknowledging the involvement of certain members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the unrest, he stressed the importance of maintaining social order for political stability.
Kakar also emphasized the necessity for political parties to democratize and reduce the influence of individuals within their ranks. He welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision on the intra-party elections of PTI, seeing it as a positive step towards diversifying political representation in Pakistan.