Hours after remaining blocked in Pakistan, the popular microblogging website Twitter was finally unblocked late on Sunday night on Prime Minster Yousuf Raza Gilani’s orders.
Earlier on Sunday, the online social networking service was banned in Pakistan by the country’s Ministry of Information Technology because “it failed to respond and take action regarding the publishing of blasphemous content.”
The news regarding banning and restoration of Twitter by Pakistani authorities had attracted widespread attention with reports emerging in local as well as foreign media.
A report in the The Washington Post reads: “The government restored access to Twitter before midnight Sunday, about eight hours after it initially blocked access. It was unclear whether the government reversed its decision because of action by Twitter or because of public criticism it received for its censorship.”
It also reads: “There was widespread criticism of the government’s action by those on Twitter, who tend to be more liberal than average Pakistanis.”
According to media reports Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik played a role in restoration of Twitter service in the country.
One of Mr Malik’s tweets on his Twitter account reads: “I spoke to PM (Prime Minister Gilani) and informed how people are feeling about it. PM ordered to reopen the twitter.” Another tweet reads – Request all members to retweet “condemn all those who generate anti Islamic tweets” I request for retweeting to friends of all other faiths.
Over the years Twitter has been gaining rapid popularity among Pakistanis. Today prominent politicians, celebrities, sportsmen, academics and people from different walks of life in Pakistan are using the microblogging service to interact with public seeking their feedback on various issues.
