LHC reserves verdict on plea challenging internet disruption in country
Pakistan
Petitioner says cutting off internet access is violation of fundamental rights
LAHORE (Dunya News) – The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday asked the counsel for the federal government to come prepared with the official response to a petition challenging erratic internet service in the country.
Justice Shakeel Ahmed heard the petition filed on Thursday by Nadeem Sarwar who challenged internet disruption across the country.
The petitioner named the federal government, the PTA, and others respondents.
WHAT'S THE ARGUMENT
The petition argues that the internet and social media apps have been shut down nationwide without any notice or explanation. It states that the internet disruption is affecting businesses and all spheres of life.
It says cutting off internet access is a violation of basic rights.
The petition requests 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.
THE HEARING
The LHC reserved the verdict after arguments between the judge and the government counsel.
As the hearing resumed, 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].”
The judge said he would give verdict.
PARALLEL APPLICATION
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 Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (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.
