Picture used for illustrative purpose. File

Gulf Today Report 

Pakistan temporarily blocked Facebook, Twitter and several other social media apps on security grounds on Friday amid a crackdown against a violent group, officials said.

 "In order to maintain public order and safety, access to certain social media applications has been restricted temporarily," a senior telecommunications authority official said Reuters, without specifying which social media.

The interior ministry said in a statement the block would last until 15:00 local time (10:00 GMT) and applied to YouTube, Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Telegram and Tiktok.

Pakistan said this week it had banned the group Tehrik-i-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) after the arrest of its leader sparked major nationwide protests that were also fuelled by anti-France sentiment.

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A second security source said that the block was linked to an operation underway against the group.

"As the government announced earlier...wherever we need we will be blocking social media to crack down against Tehrik-i-Labaiak," he said, on condition of anonymity.

 The country has been mired in protests by TLP this week. At least four policemen have been killed in three days of violence, according to the country's information minister. Nearly 600 people have been wounded, with 200 in critical condition,

Reuters