The Islamabad High Court (IHC) will hear a petition challenging the ban on the social media platform X on February 6, 2025. The hearing will be presided over by Chief Justice Aamir Farooq.
The case, initially last heard on April 17, 2024, has experienced repeated delays. Previously scheduled hearings on May 2 and June 11, 2024, were postponed. However, a miscellaneous application for an early hearing, filed in November 2024, was accepted on November 22. Chief Justice Aamir Farooq subsequently instructed that the case be scheduled after the winter break, with the Registrar Office setting the hearing date.
In a related development, the Senate’s Standing Committee on IT and Telecom convened on December 5, 2024, under the leadership of Senator Palwasha Khan, to discuss pressing issues within the IT sector.
During the meeting, Pasha Chairman Sajjad Mustafa Syed voiced serious concerns regarding the government’s Virtual Private Network (VPN) policy, emphasizing its negative implications on the IT industry. He noted, “An hour of internet disruption costs the IT sector approximately $910,000,” underscoring the need for consistent and reliable internet access.
Senator Palwasha Khan criticized the Ministry of IT for deflecting responsibilities to the Ministry of Interior, questioning the effectiveness of the ministry in addressing key challenges.
The Secretary of IT assured the committee that measures are being taken to align national security needs with minimal disruptions to the IT sector. “Our goal is to meet security requirements while safeguarding the IT industry’s growth,” he stated.
The committee emphasized the importance of developing policies that balance security concerns with the need to foster a thriving IT environment, ensuring sustainable progress for the sector.
