The Lahore High Court reserved its decision on a petition challenging the nationwide internet shutdown, stating that it is a matter of public interest and that appropriate orders will be issued.
Justice Shakeel Ahmed of the Lahore High Court presided over the hearing of a petition filed by citizen Nadeem Sarwar, seeking the full restoration of the internet across the country.
At the beginning of the hearing, the court instructed the federal government’s lawyer to seek guidance from the relevant authorities and appear before the court at 12:00 PM, after which the hearing was adjourned.
When the hearing resumed after the break, the court questioned whether the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) could decide on the internet shutdown independently or if it required federal government approval.
The federal government’s lawyer informed the court that no notification had been issued regarding the internet shutdown, and that the PTA was the primary party in this case. The lawyer requested additional time to submit a detailed response to the petition.
The government lawyer also requested to inquire from the PTA about the reasons behind the slow internet speed.
The court emphasized that this is a matter of public interest and expressed concern that the government’s seriousness was lacking, as it did not have adequate information. The court stated that appropriate orders would be issued on this matter.
Subsequently, the Lahore High Court reserved its decision on the petition against the nationwide internet shutdown.
It is worth noting that the recent internet shutdown and disruption across the country was challenged in the Lahore High Court, with Nadeem Sarwar making the federal government, PTA, and others as respondents in the petition.
The Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) has expressed concerns over the installation of a firewall.
According to Dawn News, P@SHA has requested the federal government to reconsider the installation of the firewall.
In a statement, P@SHA Vice Chairman Ali Ihsan emphasized that the IT industry should be consulted before the firewall is installed. He pointed out that prolonged internet shutdowns have severely impacted the operations of IT companies.
The Vice Chairman stated that the industry has suffered a loss of $300 million due to the internet shutdown.
He also mentioned that the design and purpose of the firewall have raised concerns among clients worldwide, with international companies believing that the firewall could compromise data security. The IT industry views this digital barrier as a threat to the economy.
The statement called for a transparent process to enhance cybersecurity, urging the government to consult with stakeholders for the protection of national interests and cybersecurity. It also suggested forming a committee comprising all relevant stakeholders.
It’s worth noting that recently, the freelancing platform Fiverr deactivated several accounts in Pakistan after receiving complaints from users regarding possible internet disruptions.
On August 14, after testing a new internet security network system, “Firewall,” in the country last July, the system was also tested on social media platforms.
The “Firewall” is a system that allows state institutions to monitor online activities. Essentially, any content uploaded to the internet will first pass through the firewall before reaching its intended destination. For example, if someone uploads a video on YouTube, it will first go through the firewall system before being accessible on YouTube, and similarly, content viewed from YouTube will also pass through the firewall before reaching the user.
The installation of the firewall system in Pakistan began in January 2024, and testing started last month in July, which has caused a slowdown in internet speeds across the country.
Now, reports indicate that the firewall has also been tested on social media platforms, which could potentially lead to improved speeds for applications and websites.
