ISLAMABAD: Senator Bahramand Tangi of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has introduced a motion calling for a ban on popular social media platforms at the Senate’s March 4 sitting.
In the resolution, the senator has called for restrictions on social sites, including Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter — now X, and YouTube, in light of their misuse against the country’s interest to “save the young generation from their negative and devastating effects”.
“Cognizant of the fact that social media platforms are adversely affecting the young generation in the country; Acknowledging the fact that these platforms are being used for promotion of norms against our religion and culture, creating hatred amongst the people on the grounds of language and religion,” the text of the resolution reads.
Tangi’s resolution, whose stint as senator ends on March 11, expressed worry over the use of social media platforms against the country’s interests “through negative and malicious propaganda against the armed forces of Pakistan.”
The resolution, which is non-binding even if passed, went on to say that these platforms were being exploited for vested interests in propagating fake news about various issues and attempting to “create and promote fake leadership in the country to hoodwink the younger generation.”
In response, PPP Secretary General Nayyar Bukhari stated that his party had nothing to do with the motion and that Tangi was not a member of the PPP.
Bukhari also noted that the senator was sent with a show cause notice for deviating from party policy last month, but he failed to furnish an explanation before the party.
“Cognizant of the fact that social media platforms are adversely affecting the young generation in the country; acknowledging the fact that these platforms are being used for the promotion of norms against our religion and culture, creating hatred amongst the people on the grounds of language and religion,” the text of the resolution reads.
