MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Ka­­shmir (AJK) High Court on Wednesday issued not­i­ces to the Pakistan Tele­communication Authority (PTA), the AJK Council, the AJK government and the Special Commu­nica­tions Organisation (SCO) on a constitutional petit­ion challenging the prolonged suspension of internet services across the region.

Justice Sardar Muhammad Ejaz took up the petition filed by Barrister Syed Abdul Basit Gillani, who appeared in person, and directed all four respondents to submit para-wise comments and/or objections by or before the next hearing on July 15.

Filed under Article 44 of the AJK Interim Constitution, the petition sought a declaration that the suspension of internet services since June 5 was unconstitutional, unlawful and violative of the fundamental rights of citizens.

It also requested the court to order immediate restoration of internet services, direct respondents to compensate consumers for infringement of their rights, and direct the telecom regulator to exercise its statutory functions independently and with due regard for consumers’ rights.

Petition terms suspension since June 5 unconstitutional, violative of fundamental rights

The petitioner contended that the internet shutdown had disru­p­ted communication, legal practice, education, banking, business and access to information across AJK, while consumers had recei­ved neither prior notice nor any official explanation regarding the suspension or its expected duration.

Internet services, including mobile data and fibre broadband, were suspended without notice despite consumers regularly paying service charges and taxes, the petitioner said, arguing that the continued blackout had caused widespread inconvenience and uncertainty, affecting professionals and the public alike.

The petitioner maintained that access to telecommunications had become an essential component of the fundamental rights guaranteed under the AJK Interim Constitution, including the rights to life, liberty, freedom of movement, trade, expression, education and access to information.

He argued that uninterrupted internet connectivity had become indispensable in modern society for professional, educational, commercial and governmental activities.

The petitioner further argued that under the Pakistan Telecommu­ni­cation (Reorgani­sa­tion) Act, 1996, as adapted in AJK, telecommunication services could be suspended across an extensive area and for a prolonged period only after a proclamation of emergency under Article 53 of the AJK Interim Constitution.

He maintained that no such proclamation had been issued since the internet shutdown began on June 5, rendering the suspension without lawful authority.

He further contended that the law envisaged only temporary and localised disruption of telecommunication services to address specific security concerns, whereas a blanket suspension across the entire territory for an indefinite period fell outside the scope of those powers.

He also alleged that the Telecom Consumers Protection Regulations, 2009, had been violated as consumers were neither given prior notice nor informed of the reasons for the suspension.

The petitioner claimed that while internet services remained unavailable to ordinary citizens, some government offices continued to enjoy connectivity, rendering the suspension discriminatory.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2026