ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday asked the government and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to respond to senior journalist Hamid Mir’s petition challenging the nationwide internet slowdown.
Internet speeds have significantly declined in recent weeks, causing difficulties for users trying to send or download media and voice notes on WhatsApp, and experiencing slow browsing even on broadband connections. The business community and internet service providers (ISPs) have attributed the slowdown to the government’s internet traffic monitoring efforts, including a reported ‘firewall,’ which they claim has led to economic losses.
While IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja has acknowledged that the government is updating its “web management system” to address cybersecurity threats, she has denied any deliberate throttling of the internet.
In his petition, filed on Friday through Advocate Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir, Mir requested the court address violations of citizens’ fundamental rights due to the alleged installation of a firewall, which he claims has drastically reduced internet speeds and caused routine network disruptions. The petition also highlights the federal government’s denial of these issues.
During today’s proceedings, IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq sought responses from the government and the PTA by August 26. He inquired whether the PTA or the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication should be held accountable for the slow internet speeds.
Mir’s counsel, Mazari, noted that the PTA has not addressed the issue. Justice Farooq suggested summoning senior officials who are knowledgeable about the matter to provide a briefing.
In a separate development, the Lahore High Court (LHC) has also summoned representatives from the federal government, the information ministry, and the PTA for a hearing tomorrow on another petition concerning internet disruptions.
In his petition, Mir has requested the court to declare that no firewall should be installed without extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders and adherence to constitutional safeguards. He also seeks recognition of internet access and connectivity as fundamental rights under the Constitution, allowing only reasonable legal restrictions based on necessity and proportionality. Additionally, the petition calls for a report on the firewall and the suspension of any such work until uninterrupted access to internet services is restored.
