Islamabad High Court Postpones Internet Slowdown Case to September 3

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has postponed the hearing of the case concerning the internet slowdown and the installation of a firewall, setting the next session for September 3.

During the proceedings, the government was unable to provide a satisfactory explanation to the court regarding the reasons behind the persistent internet speed issues. Consequently, the court directed the authorities to submit a detailed report by the next hearing. The court also summoned the Member Technical of the relevant authority to appear in person.

Chief Justice Aamir Farooq expressed concern over the inconsistent statements being issued by government ministers, noting that one moment they attribute the slowdown to a firewall, while in the next, they deny it. “There are contradictory statements being issued by the ministers. They claim at one time it is due to a firewall, and then deny it the next time,” remarked the Chief Justice.

He also pointed out that a similar case is pending in the Lahore High Court, yet no one is taking responsibility for the situation. The Chief Justice emphasized the need for clarity, stating, “Submit a report if it’s an issue of security or national interest. The court wants to understand what’s happening.”

During the hearing, the Deputy Attorney General assured the court that the issue was not due to any new installations by the government. Meanwhile, the lawyer representing the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) explained that there were technical issues affecting the internet service. He mentioned that two underwater cables had been cut earlier, and they recently received a message indicating that a third cable had also been severed.

When asked by the Chief Justice whether the PTA or another entity was responsible for the slowdown, the PTA’s lawyer clarified that while internet connectivity remained active, certain services like WhatsApp had been impacted, particularly with issues in sending audio and video messages. The lawyer further added that the Chairman of PTA had indicated that the web operating system is currently being upgraded, which might also contribute to the disruptions.

The Chief Justice expressed dissatisfaction, highlighting that the business community and other sectors have been complaining about these issues for over 10 days. He noted that while temporary disruptions might be expected, the ongoing problem for 12 to 14 days was unacceptable.

The case has named the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) and the Ministry of Human Rights as respondents in the petition challenging the internet slowdown and the potential installation of a firewall. The court’s next session will likely delve deeper into these issues as it seeks to address the growing concerns over internet accessibility and security in the country.