LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) issued notices to the federal government, the Ministry of Information Technology and the Pakistan Tele­co­mmunication Authority (PTA) on Saturday in res­ponse to a petition challenging disruptions in internet services across the country.

In a written order following the hearing on Fri­day, Justice Shakil Ahmad directed the authorities concerned to submit their responses by Aug 21.

During the proceedings, the judge expressed concern over the widespread internet slowdown and indicated that the court would issue an appropriate order on the matter.

Justice Ahmad emphasi­sed the public interest nat­ure of the case, assuring that the court would provide necessary directions to authorities to address the issue.

The petition, filed by Adv­ocate Nadeem Sarwar, argued that the ongoing dis­ruptions and slow internet speeds are severely affecting professionals in the IT sector and those eng­aged in online busine­sses. Mr Sarwar noted that major platforms like Face­book and WhatsApp have also been significantly impacted for over a week.

He asked the court to declare that internet shutdowns violate the Constitution and to order the government to ensure an uninterrupted supply of internet services.

On Friday, the LHC also strongly criticised the state counsel for his lack of preparedness and seriousness regarding the recent internet disruptions. Justice Ahmed instructed an assistant attorney general to consult with the relevant authorities and provide a report after a brief recess.

The government’s lawyer requested additional time to submit a comprehensive report on the disruptions, citing the need to consult with the PTA to identify the root causes of the internet slowdown.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the government’s response, Justice Ahmed questioned the level of seriousness being displayed, pointing out the lack of sufficient information provided by the law officer, given the critical public importance of the issue. The hearing was then adjourned until Aug 21.

Separately, senior journalist Hamid Mir also filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court on Friday against the internet slowdown. The petition sought redressal for what it describes as glaring violations of citizens’ fundamental rights due to the apparent installation of a firewall, drastically reduced internet speeds, routine network disruptions and the federal government’s denial of these issues.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2024