Mazari informed the court that the PTA has not provided a response on the issue.
Chief Justice Aamer Farooq of the Islamabad High Court has called on relevant officials to provide an explanation for the recent slowdown in internet speeds across the country.
During a hearing on a petition challenging the reduced internet speeds and the installation of a firewall, Justice Farooq questioned the petitioner’s lawyer, Imaan Mazari, about the root cause of the slowdown.
“Before we issue any order, we need to understand what is happening,” Justice Farooq said. “Which ministry is responsible? Should we address the PTA or the Ministry of Information Technology?”
Mazari informed the court that the PTA had not responded to inquiries regarding the issue.
The Chief Justice then sought clarification on which officials should be summoned, asking if the Secretary or Joint Secretary would be appropriate. Mazari requested the presence of senior officials from the relevant ministries. Justice Farooq responded, “We will call someone knowledgeable about this issue who can provide a detailed briefing.”
The court issued notices to the involved parties and adjourned the hearing until Monday, requesting responses by that date.
The petition, filed on August 16 by lawyer Imaan Mazari on behalf of journalist and anchorperson Hamid Mir, seeks to prevent the installation of a firewall, alleging it infringes on citizens’ fundamental rights. The petition names the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the Secretary of Information Technology, the Secretary of Interior and Cabinet, and the Ministry of Human Rights as respondents.
