Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari on Sunday said that Twitter refused the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s request to take down Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) leader Khadim Hussain Rizvi’s account on the social network.

Responding to a tweet from a Twitter user, who had asked Mazari and the government to take action against Khadim Rizvi’s social media accounts for ‘threatening state institutions’, Mazari initially said she was ‘shocked’ Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had not taken necessary steps despite being told to do so.

Later, the PTI leader clarified that she has checked with Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry who told her that social media giant Twitter refused PTA’s request to take down Rizvi’s account. The reason for refusal of the request was not mentioned by the minister.

Social media users across the country have been vocal against the TLP leader’s Twitter account that has been ‘inciting violence and threatening state institutions’.

On Saturday, Rizvi and TLP senior leader Afzal Qadri were booked on charges of rioting and disrupting peace in various parts of the provincial capital, a private TV channel reported.

Police said 500 people, including Rizvi and Qadri, were booked in 11 cases. They face charges of disrupting peace and blocking roads, police said. Separately, a petition seeking damages for the destruction of public property during protests led by the TLP was filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Saturday.