The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) submitted its response to the Sindh High Court concerning the suspension of a social media application, X, citing security threats as the reason for shutting down mobile phone and internet services. The court session emphasized rationality over emotional reactions and urged authorities to prevent such incidents from recurring.
Chief Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi stressed that shutting down the internet should not be the default approach, and efforts should focus on preventing untoward incidents responsibly. The court highlighted the need for collective efforts to eliminate discrimination and urged unity to address challenges effectively.
During the proceedings, the PTA’s lawyer stated that the organization does not possess the tools to shut down or affect the internet, which surprised the Chief Justice. The lawyer for the federal government clarified that the PTA acted based on legislation dating back to 2009.
The court issued notices to the Chairman of PTA and others in response to Jibran Nasir’s contempt of court application, setting a response deadline for March 20. The Ministry of Interior and PTA requested additional time to respond, which the court granted, expanding the existing restraining order related to the restoration of internet services in Pakistan.
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