Islamabad, In a recent statement, Farhatullah Babar, the President of the Human Rights Cell of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and former senator, has vocally criticized the handling of social media platform “X”‘s suspension by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the interior ministry. Babar’s remarks emphasize the need for a significant overhaul within the PTA and the immediate reinstatement of access to “X”.
According to Pakistan Peoples Party, the acknowledgment by the interior ministry of its role in suspending “X” came after persistent denials and has highlighted concerns about transparency and accountability within the government. The ministry’s admission in the Sindh High Court, revealing that the suspension was advised by intelligence agencies, has sparked debate over governance practices that seemingly bypass democratic rights and oversight.
The scenario is further complicated by the PTA chief’s admission of confusion within the organization, despite clear directives from the interior ministry regarding “X”‘s suspension. This confusion and apparent lack of initiative to resolve the issue, particularly in light of court orders demanding the platform’s restoration, underscores perceived deficiencies in the PTA’s operational clarity and adherence to legal standards.
Further controversy stems from unresolved allegations made by a bureaucrat against prominent judicial and electoral figures, which preceded the platform’s suspension. The lack of investigation into these claims, coupled with the absence of accountability for the suspension’s authorization, raises serious questions about procedural integrity within the government.
Babar’s call for a PTA shakeup and the restoration of “X” reflects broader concerns within Pakistani civil society about the balance between national security, governmental transparency, and the protection of fundamental rights. The situation remains a focal point for discussions on governance, with the PPP spotlighting the need for reform and responsive action to uphold democratic principles and freedom of expression.
Islamabad, The concerted humanitarian response to Pakistan’s catastrophic floods of 2022-2023 was lauded by international donors and organizations at a recent meeting in the capital city. Participants reviewed past rehabilitation efforts and discussed strategies to enhance future aid delivery to the country’s most vulnerable populations.
According to Pak NGOs, the event, organized by the Italian NGO CESVI, was attended by a high-profile assembly, including the Ambassador of Denmark in Pakistan, Mr. Jakob Linulf, a representative from ECHO, Mr. Filippo Ortolani, along with members from the NDMA, PDMA Sindh, and various international and national NGOs. The gathering marked the conclusion of a substantial relief and recovery initiative by CESVI, which was funded by ECHO and aimed at assisting communities in the provinces of Sindh and Punjab.
Over 40,000 households, amounting to more than 250,000 individuals from districts impacted by the floods, benefited from the project, receiving aid such as cash grants, shelter rehabilitation, WASH kits, livelihood support, and capacity-building training. The project, which spanned from 2022 to 2024, represented an investment of approximately 8 million Euros.
A panel discussion featured contributions from experts across several organizations, including the FAO, OCHA, USAID, the British High Commission, and Agha Khan Habitat. Deliberations focused on refining the aid delivery mechanism in Pakistan and fostering collaboration among stakeholders, with Disaster Risk Management constituting a significant topic.
Ambassador Linulf expressed his gratitude towards partners and stressed the importance of collective efforts, particularly highlighting the challenges of providing clean drinking water during the flood crisis. Mr. Ortolani praised the exemplary international response to the floods and underlined the importance of civic protection mechanisms, reiterating the commitment to supporting Pakistan in future natural calamities.
The event also served as a platform for CESVI’s country director and program coordinator to recap the project’s successes and for partner NGOs to outline their contributions to the rehabilitation efforts. CESVI’s commitment to community resilience, localization, and the humanitarian-development-peace nexus was reaffirmed as integral to its operational ethos.
As the event concluded, it was clear that the international community remains steadfast in its support for Pakistan, ready to assist in both immediate relief and long-term development challenges.