Tag: X

  • Corruption was rampant in PTI’s previous KP government,’ Sher Afzal Marwat

    Corruption was rampant in PTI’s previous KP government,’ Sher Afzal Marwat

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and lawmaker Sher Afzal Marwat made startling admissions regarding corruption within his party’s previous government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

    Known for his outspoken demeanor and controversial statements, Marwat recently alleged on an X (former Twitter) space that corruption had reached unprecedented levels during the previous PTI government in KP, with individuals amassing not billions, but trillions through illicit means.

    Responding to a question, the PTI leader said that the narrative of keeping former prime minister Imran Khan at Adiala Jail instead of his residence in Bani Gala was not floated by him.
    “Former KP chief minister Mahmood Khan earns Rs2.5 million daily from one of his mines now,” he added.

    Marwat’s remarks have once again thrust him into the limelight for his blunt and provocative statements. Just last week, he openly criticized his party’s decisions on alliances, attributing their electoral setbacks to two major mistakes.

    He said the first major mistake was committed when party founder Imran Khan gave instructions for a political alliance with the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Sherani and the second major mistake was the announcement of the inclusion into the Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen, adding that some people gave sectarian colour to the issue and gave threatening messages to the PTI leadership.
    However, Marwat’s comments have drawn ire from within his party, as well as from political allies.

    Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Chairman of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), issued a stern warning to leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), cautioning them against airing internal grievances publicly.
    The revelations made by Marwat have reignited discussions surrounding corruption allegations within the PTI and have raised concerns about the party’s internal cohesion.

  • Maryam Nawaz slammed on social media over ‘defamation’ law

    Maryam Nawaz slammed on social media over ‘defamation’ law

    Maryam Nawaz, Chief Minister Punjab, took to X (former Twitter) and announced that she is making a defamation law for Punjab.

    X user Faisal Ranjha asked in a tweet whether this government will be able to make a strong defamation law to counter lies and fake news. In response to that, Maryam quote tweeted, “I am making that law for Punjab.”

    Social media users reacted by mentioning how such laws already exist and are misused against political rivals and journalists.

    Lawyer and co-founder of Bolo Bhi, Farieha Aziz, said, “And it begins. ‘We need more laws’ to counter “fake news” & strengthen defamation narrative. Because Defamation Ordianance, 499 & 500 of PPC & 20 of PECA don’t already exist? Laws are implemented through same broken system. Malicious proceedings swift, genuine ones face delays.”

    Member of Awami Workers Party Ammar Rashid said, “While their overlords block X to shut down criticism, PMLN leadership openly announcing its intention to further criminalize attempts to hold public officeholders to account using the bogeyman of defamation & fake news. We must all shut up b/c our ruling elite is too insecure.”

    Film maker Arafat Mazhar said, “No “I” will be allowed to make that law. only a “we”, that too which represents democratic will, can make that law (unless it is to protect marginalised people from Tyranny of majority) Also this proposed defamation law is a disaster. Please maafi deh du. Aur Kitni awaz dabao gey?”

  • Notices issued to PTA and Information Ministry on closure of X

    Notices issued to PTA and Information Ministry on closure of X

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has taken a significant step in response to the closure of the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, in Pakistan. The court issued notices to the Ministry of Information and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) concerning the shutdown of the said platform within the country.

    IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq presided over the hearing of a petition challenging the closure of X, which has been mostly inaccessible in Pakistan since February 17, with users resorting to VPNs for access.

    During the hearing on the plea today, the IHC CJ asked: “Is X closed?”

    At this, the petitioner’s lawyer replied that X had been closed in Pakistan since February 17.

    “This matter was also before the Sindh High Court (SHC), what happened to it?” asked Justice Farooq.

    The lawyer disclosed that a similar matter is pending before SHC where a petition related to contempt of court is scheduled for a hearing today.

    Following these discussions, Justice Farooq announced the issuance of notices for the next week, indicating a significant development in the legal pursuit to address the closure of X in Pakistan.

    SHC Chief Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi issued orders on a plea filed by multiple petitioners including Zarrar Khuhro, Amber Shamsi, Zebunnisa Burki, and others against intermittent disruptions faced by users in accessing the renowned social media platform which has witnessed various “unannounced” sporadic suspensions in recent weeks.

    The disruptions in accessing the platform have been a cause of distress for users, especially in the aftermath of the February 8 general elections, during which several social media sites were rendered inaccessible.

    While authorities attributed these disruptions to technical errors and security concerns during the polling day, users continued to experience intermittent suspensions in accessing X post-election.

    In a recent statement to a local media outlet, Information Minister Murtaza Solangi clarified that the caretaker government had no involvement in the shutdown of X in Pakistan.

    Solangi emphasized that the caretaker cabinet had not deliberated or decided on the closure of the microblogging website. He suggested directing inquiries regarding the matter to the Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

    With the legal proceedings underway in both the Islamabad High Court and the Sindh High Court, the fate of X in Pakistan hangs in the balance, while users await a resolution to ensure uninterrupted access to the popular social media platform.

  • Elon Musk’s attempt to silence pro-Palestine voices

    Elon Musk’s attempt to silence pro-Palestine voices

    In another controversial post on X (formerly Twitter), Elon Musk wrote that calls for genocide like ‘from the river to the sea’ will result in suspension i.e. X users who use the terms “decolonization”, “from the river to the sea” and other “similar euphemisms” that “necessarily imply genocide” will be suspended from the platform.

    This was followed criticism from pro-Palestinian users who asserted that such a policy restricts their free speech after which he posted again, stating that “anyone advocating the genocide of “*any*” group” would be suspended from X.

    Alluding to the River Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea, “From the river to the sea” is a pro-Palestine slogan used by Palestinian supporters who voice for the freedom of the occupied land. And now that the slogan is under scrutiny, it has been pointed out that labelling it as anti-semitic is a way to criminalise and silence pro-Palestinian narrative and curtail their free speech because following the events of October 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, Israel intensified attacks on Gaza that have killed more than 11,000 people which then resulted in increased criticism of Israel around the world.

    Elon Musk has claimed to be a “free speech absolutist” and that he bought Twitter (now X) to create a space where “a wide range of beliefs can be debated in a healthy manner.”

  • X considers monthly fee for all users as a countermeasure against fake accounts 

    X considers monthly fee for all users as a countermeasure against fake accounts 

    Renowned technology billionaire Elon Musk hinted on Tuesday that users of the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, may face a monthly fee. Musk stated, “We’re moving to having a small monthly payment for use of the system,” during a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

    Musk’s proposal is driven by the need to combat the issue of bots and fake accounts on social media, with the idea of charging for verification. However, it remains unclear whether this was a spontaneous comment or a signal of more concrete plans. 

    The new owner of the social media giant X, who assumed control last year, is encouraging users to subscribe to X Premium, which offers paid subscribers additional features like longer posts and increased visibility. Currently, users can still access X for free. 

    While Musk insists that the primary objective is to combat bots, it is apparent that there is a financial interest for the company in charging users, according to the BBC. Musk explained, “A bot costs a fraction of a penny to make. But if somebody even has to pay a few dollars or something, some minor amount, the effective cost to bots is very high.” 

    Read more: iOS 17 update is here: Try these fun features today

    The world’s richest person is also exploring options for lower pricing tiers for X Premium, which currently costs $8 (£6.50) per month in the US, with variations depending on the subscriber’s location. He stated, “We’re actually going to come up with lower-tier pricing. So we just want it to be a small amount of money.” 

    Musk emphasised, “This is a longer discussion, but in my view, this is actually the only defence against vast armies of bots.” 

    However, there is a concern that placing X behind a paywall could result in a significant loss of users, potentially affecting the company’s primary source of income, advertising revenue. 

  • Social media giant X faces lawsuit for allegedly assisting Saudi Arabia in human rights abuses

    Social media giant X faces lawsuit for allegedly assisting Saudi Arabia in human rights abuses

    The social media giant formerly known as Twitter, now referred to as X, faces a revised civil lawsuit in the US that accuses it of aiding Saudi Arabia in committing severe human rights violations against its users. This includes allegations of disclosing confidential user data to Saudi authorities at a significantly higher rate than for other countries such as the US, UK, or Canada. 

    According to The Guardian, the lawsuit was originally filed in May by Areej al-Sadhan, the sister of a Saudi aid worker who was forcibly disappeared and later sentenced to 20 years in prison. The case revolves around the infiltration of Twitter by three Saudi agents, two of whom posed as Twitter employees in 2014 and 2015. This infiltration led to the arrest of al-Sadhan’s brother, Abdulrahman, and the exposure of the identities of thousands of anonymous Twitter users, some of whom were reportedly detained and tortured as part of the Saudi government’s crackdown on dissent. 

    The updated lawsuit alleges that Twitter, under the leadership of then-CEO Jack Dorsey, knowingly ignored or had knowledge of the Saudi government’s campaign to identify critics but provided assistance due to financial considerations and its close ties to the Saudi government, a major investor in the company. 

    The lawsuit highlights how Twitter was initially seen as a tool for democratic movements during the Arab Spring, which raised concerns for the Saudi government as early as 2013. 

    These allegations come shortly after Human Rights Watch criticised a Saudi court for sentencing a man to death solely based on his Twitter and YouTube activity. The convicted individual, Muhammad al-Ghamdi, had minimal online presence and was accused of having two accounts with a few followers and tweets, both containing retweets of government critics. 

    The lawsuit claims that Twitter was aware of security risks related to insider access to personal data and ignored red flags. It also alleges that Saudi authorities filed emergency disclosure requests with Twitter to obtain user identity information, often approved promptly. 

    Between July and December 2015, Twitter allegedly granted information requests to Saudi Arabia more frequently than to other countries, including Canada, the UK, Australia, and Spain. 

    Despite becoming aware of FBI concerns about Saudi infiltration, Twitter continued to engage with Saudi Arabia as a crucial regional partner. CEO Jack Dorsey even met with Mohammed bin Salman about six months after the FBI raised the issue. 

    The lawsuit ultimately seeks justice for Areej al-Sadhan’s brother, Abdulrahman, and aims to hold Twitter accountable for its alleged complicity in human rights abuses. 

  • Here’s why cricketer Imam ul Haq’s parents don’t go to his matches

    Here’s why cricketer Imam ul Haq’s parents don’t go to his matches

    Pakistani cricketer Imam-ul-Haq recently went on Daniyal Sheikh’s podcast where he made a heart breaking confession about his family. He said that consistent taunts by spectators during matches has prevented his family members from watching him play live at stadiums.

    The cricket star made his ODI debut in 2017 in Abu Dhabi in a match against Sri Lanka. At the time, his uncle Inzamam-ul-Haq, a former captain of the Pakistan cricket team, was the team’s chief selector. Imam’s selection sparked controversy, leading to fans of the sport taunting the player with the term ‘parchi’.

    Reflecting on the bullying comments during the podcast, Imam said during the early years of his career, people used to approach him at restaurants to taunt him with ‘parchi’

    “During 2017-2020 when I used to go to dinner with my family, people would approach me and call me ‘parchi’ to my face,” he said.

    Imam went on to explain that because of these taunts, to this day, his parents have never watched him play in cricket stadiums:

    “They really want to come and watch me play, but I’m just scared- this is the first time I’m talking about this. But when I’m standing on the boundary, I don’t want my mother to listen to the taunt ‘parchi’ in the stadium. If I was batting and I was out, it wouldn’t matter if I had played better before or not, while going back I would hear taunts of ‘parchi’.”

    Since the clip was shared by cricketandstuff on X, formerly Twitter, social media users have expressed their dismay at how the cricketer has suffered relentless bullying yet manages to remain dedicated to the game.

    Ali Tareen wrote:

    “Heartbreaking to hear such an accomplished player never being able to invite his parents to see him live. Just so he can protect them from hearing their son being abused.”

  • X Blue users will have to send selfie, data to Israeli software company

    X Blue users will have to send selfie, data to Israeli software company

    PC Magazine has reported that X, previously known as Twitter, will soon require its Blue users to provide a selfie and a copy of a government-issued identification.

    This is a part of the verification process that will be handled by an Israeli company AU10TIX software which will store the provided information for up to 30 days.

    According to X, data collected from a user’s profile will be used “for the purpose of safety and security, including preventing impersonation”.

    X users have expressed their concerns with data collection due to previous instances of data breach. Others are unhappy about the software’s links with Israeli intelligence.

    Al-Jazeera reports that AU10TIX has helped create the identity verification systems for airports and border controls in the 1980s and 90s and then ventured into “digital spaces” in 2002 as the internet grew. The company now deals with renowned digital platforms like Uber, PayPal and Google.

    The purpose of the new verification process is to further strengthen security against impersonation and fraud.

    Previously, Musk imposed a subscription fee on verified Twitter users in November 2022. This was extended to accounts with a verified phone number and active subscription to an “eligible Twitter Blue plan”.

    This year, in April, Twitter removed legacy verification programmes as well as legacy verified checkmarks.
    This prompted a fear of impersonation and spreading of information.

    This was followed by gold and grey check marks indicating verified organization and government- affiliated accounts, respectively.

  • Meta set to unveil web version of Threads, challenging X

    Meta set to unveil web version of Threads, challenging X

    Meta is getting ready to launch the web version of Threads, which is its rival to X (previously known as Twitter). This launch is expected to happen early this week, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. Threads, which offers short-form posts, has been missing a web version since its start.

    Mark Zuckerberg, who is the CEO of Meta, mentioned that they’re working on adding this feature along with a better search function. Right now, the search function is quite limited; you can only search for usernames. These changes are expected to be ready in a few weeks.

    However, The Wall Street Journal’s sources say that the exact launch plans are not set in stone and could change. Adam Mosseri, who posted on Threads, shared that they’ve been testing an early version internally for a short time. But before it’s released widely, some more work is needed.

    Threads started as a basic version similar to Twitter just about a month and a half ago. Surprisingly, it quickly gained over 100 million users and attracted celebrities and brands. However, it has been missing some important features. The company has been slowly adding improvements, like a follow feed and the ability to verify a link using a Mastodon profile. This suggests that Meta might be considering integrating with the decentralised social network protocol Activity Pub.