Social media network Twitter has suspended Pakistani firebrand cleric and Tehreek-e-Labaik (TLP) chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi’s account on Sunday night. Upon visiting the handle @KhadimRizviReal, a notification ‘Account suspended’ appears. The error reads the account has been suspended “for violating Twitter rules”.
Moreover, Jemima Goldsmith, former wife of PM Imran Khan, reacted to Twitter suspending the cleric’s account by saying, “Something good happened today. Well done @Twitter“.
Something good happened today. Well done @Twitter pic.twitter.com/K9nbSHFc1A
— Jemima Goldsmith (@Jemima_Khan) November 4, 2018
Okay great humans of twitter seems Khadim Hussain Rizvi’s twitter handle is gone. https://t.co/qsBhhbMnCA
— Nighat Dad (@nighatdad) November 4, 2018
Digital rights activist Nighat Dad also informed that her request was taken care of by the micro-blogging site. “Okay great humans of twitter seems Khadim Hussain Rizvi’s twitter handle is gone,” she tweeted.
The move comes hours after Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari on Sunday said that despite the request by Pakistan government, Twitter had refused to block the account of Khadim Rizvi.
Replying to the author Ayesha Siddiqa, Mazari wrote: “PTA was asked to do this by the relevant minister on Friday and I am shocked it hasn’t happened as I was present when PTA bureaucracy was finally found available and tasked!.”
PTA was asked to do this by the relevant minister on Friday and I am shocked it hasnt happened as I was present when PTA bureaucracy was finally found available and tasked! https://t.co/G3YLF6hz9C
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) November 4, 2018
Updating about the situation, the federal minister said: “Just checked with information minister who was informed that Twitter refusing our request.”
Just chkd with info Minister who was informed that Twitter refusing our request! https://t.co/LZhbf6OSj2
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) November 4, 2018
Earlier, Siddiqa asked the minister to take steps against the Twitter handle of the TLP chief as he wrote: “Madame Minister @ShireenMazari1 shouldn’t your ministry at least write to Facebook and Twitter to block Khadim Rizvi and his accounts? How can anyone threaten the state and its institutions.”
Madame Minister @ShireenMazari1 shouldn’t your ministry at least write to Facebook and twitter to block Khadim Rizvi and his accounts? How can any one threaten the state and its institutions
— Ayesha Siddiqa (@iamthedrifter) November 4, 2018
The countrywide demonstrations by TLP and other religiopolitical parties, which erupted on Wednesday after the Supreme Court announced acquitting Aasia Bibi, had left major highways — including the motorway connecting Lahore and Islamabad — blocked and routine life paralysed in major cities.
Mobile services in major cities had also been suspended.
The protests had come after Prime Minister Imran Khan issued a forceful rebuke to the TLP in a nationally-televised address in the ruling’s wake, saying the government would not tolerate violent protests.
On Friday, the government and the TLP had signed a deal to conclude the latter’s nationwide protest. One of the major concessions the government agreed to was to “initiate the legal process” to place Aasia Bibi’s name on the ECL [Exit Control List].
The state had also assured the party that it would not oppose a review petition filed against the Supreme Court’s judgement in the Aasia Bibi blasphemy case.
The government further promised to take appropriate legal action to redress any deaths that may have occurred during the protests against the Aasia Bibi verdict and to release all people picked up in connection with the protests starting October 30.
The TLP, in turn, only offered an apology “if it hurt the sentiments or inconvenienced anyone without reason”.