LHC seeks response from federal govt, PTA over internet disruption across country

The LHC has summoned representatives of the federal government, the Ministry of Information and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in the court on next hearing. It  adjourned the case hearing until Aug 21.

It is pertinent to note that the petition filed on Thursday by Nadeem Sarwar challenged internet disruption across the country, making the federal government, the PTA, and others respondents.

LHC’s Justice Shakeel Ahmed heard the case on Friday and reserved the verdict on maintainability of plea after arguments between the judge and the federal government counsel.

The petition mentioned that the mobile internet and social media apps had been suspended nationwide without any notice or explanation. It argued that the internet disruption is affecting businesses and all spheres of life.

It said disruption of internet access was a violation of basic rights.

The petition requested that the federal government’s decision to slow down the internet be declared null and void and that orders be issued for the immediate and complete restoration of internet services across the country.

It is pertinent to note that the National Assembly’s Committee for IT has directed to resolve the crises of internet outages and social media suspension within two weeks.

In Aug 16 hearing, state counsel Rana Nauman appeared before the court and requested the court to give some time to submit a detailed report on the internet outages.

“We will have to ask the PTA why the internet is slow [and] what has happened,” the counsel contended.

Justice Ahmad observed, “This is a matter of public interest and your seriousness is such that you do not even have adequate information [about this issue].”

On Friday, an application was filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against installation of firewall and disruption in internet service.

The application made the cabinet secretary, the IT secretary, and the home secretary respondents. The PTA and the Ministry of Human Rights also have been made parties in the plea.

The application requests the court to halt the installation of firewall curbing citizens’ fundamental rights.

Senior journalist Hamid Mir moved the IHC against internet connectivity issues and filed the petition through Advocate Imaan Mazari.

Mir contended that he, along with other journalists, were facing disruptions in performing their duties due to internet outages.