The Sindh High Court, on Wednesday, issued a directive asserting that internet access should not be impeded across the country. The court, presided over by Chief Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi in a two-member bench, addressed a petition filed by Jibran Nasir, a candidate for PS-110, in response to recent widespread internet disruptions. Nasir contended that these disruptions were unjustified and posed hindrances to electoral campaigning.
The petition named the ministries of interior and information technology, as well as the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, as parties in the case. Notices were served to all concerned parties, mandating them to submit their responses by January 29.
Internet access and social media apps faced disruptions on December 17, January 7, and January 20. The government attributed these outages to technical faults and software upgrades. However, questions have been raised by various quarters about the timing of these disruptions, seemingly coinciding with online events organized by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
The court’s order specifically seeks an explanation from authorities regarding the recent internet outages. It emphasized that hindering internet access is not permissible anywhere in the country. The response from the ministries of interior and information technology, as well as the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, is eagerly awaited to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the disruptions.
The court’s directive underscores the importance of ensuring uninterrupted internet services, especially during critical periods such as electoral campaigns. It remains to be seen how the involved authorities will address the court’s concerns and provide clarity on the reasons behind the recent internet outages.
