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PTA Wrote to X Three Times to Block Imran Khan’s Account, Received No Response
PTA told IHC it sought closure of Imran Khan’s X account three times since 2022, but platform largely ignored requests over alleged inflammatory posts.
ND
by News Desk
2026-01-22
PTA Wrote to X Three Times to Block Imran Khan’s Account, Received No Response

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has revealed that it wrote to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) three times over the past three and a half years seeking the closure of an account operated in the name of PTI founder Imran Khan, but received no response from the company.

The disclosure was made in a PTA report submitted to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday, seen by Dawn, in connection with a petition concerning alleged inflammatory posts from Imran Khan’s X account while he remains incarcerated.

According to the report, the first request was sent to X on August 21, 2022, but no response was received. A second request followed on April 18, 2024, which included references to court orders and details of Imran Khan’s convictions and sentences in the Toshakhana, cypher, and unlawful marriage cases, totaling 14, 10, and seven years respectively. Once again, the platform did not respond.

The PTA further stated that on November 27, 2025, it requested the blocking of 47 tweets from Imran Khan’s account. However, X blocked only one tweet out of the total.

The authority highlighted regulatory challenges, noting that over-the-top (OTT) platforms operating in Pakistan are registered in their countries of origin and are therefore not bound by Pakistani jurisdiction. It said such platforms are not necessarily subject to the laws of the region where their content is accessed.

PTA added that while social media companies provide complaint mechanisms for users and regulators, selective blocking of content is not technically feasible due to encrypted and secure channels. It said the only remaining option is a complete revocation of access, which can be carried out on a “best effort basis”.

The report also revealed that in October 2021, PTA had asked social media companies to comply with Section 7(6) of the Blocking of Unlawful Online Content Rules, requiring registration with PTA and appointment of a local grievance officer. However, no affirmative response has been received so far.

During hearings on Wednesday, the Islamabad High Court questioned how proceedings could continue when authorities were allegedly restricting Imran Khan’s lawyers from meeting him. The court also termed PTA’s response to the petition as “unsatisfactory.”

The petition challenging the alleged inflammatory posts was filed in September last year. Meanwhile, Adiala Jail authorities have denied that the X account is being operated from inside the jail, stating that Imran Khan is under strict surveillance and has no access to mobile phones or prohibited devices.
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