Islamabad:
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday issued notices to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the federal government and the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications (MOITT) over the ban on social media application TikTok.
The court summoned a senior official of the PTA to appear before the court and explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against the PTA officials for not complying with the earlier order of the court, in which the PTA was directed to make rules for exercise of its powers under PECA 2016.
“Has PTA made rules under section 37 of PECA 2016?” The court inquired.
The petitioner’s counsel said, “The rules have not been framed yet. The court has given 90 days time to the PTA.”
Petitioner’s lawyer Usama Khawar said, “PTA has violated two court decisions by banning Tik Tok.”
Chief Justice Athar Minallah asked what was Tik Tok, to which the lawyer replied that it was a video sharing application on social media.
The lawyer said that earlier, the PTA had banned Players Unidentified Battleground (PUBG), which was declared invalid by the same court.
Court ordered PTA not to indulge in such illegal activities.
“Has India not banned Tik Tok?” CJ Minallah asked a question. The petitioner replied that the ban was imposed in the United States of America (US) but the decision is still pending.
The court asked whether the ban was for security reasons. Chief Justice Minallah remarked, “That’s how the whole internet has to be shut down.” He said that it is not as if any crime has been committed on the motorway and because of this the entire motorway should be closed.
The IHC also summoned Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists President Shehzada Zulfikar, Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) Vice President Abid Saqi, journalists Mazhar Abbas and Javed Jabbar to assist the court on the banning of online platforms and the implication of freedom of expression and speech on MICE Appointed as and Right to Access to Information under Articles 19 and 19A of the Constitution and the alleged misuse of PECA.
In addition, they will also consider how freedom of expression and access to information can be curtailed by the PTA on vague criteria of unethical and decent content.
The court adjourned the hearing till next Friday.
