April 2, 2024
By Aitzaz Ibrahim
LAHORE:
The Lahore High Court, presided over by Justice Asim Hafeez, convened today to consider a petition filed by lawyer Huzaifa Naeem Sehgal, seeking the restoration of social media platform ‘X’.
Sehgal’s petition urged the court to declare the closure of X as illegal. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) counsel argued that a similar petition is pending before Justice Shahid Bilal Aslam of the Lahore High Court. He proposed either the dismissal of Sehgal’s petition or its consolidation with the pending petition.
However, Justice Asim Hafeez insisted that the court focus on understanding the regulatory framework governing X and other social media platforms. He requested the PTA’s lawyer to explain the laws governing social media regulation, emphasizing the need for clarity on the PTA’s regulatory authority over these platforms.
The court adjourned further proceedings until April 29, instructing the PTA counsel to provide a detailed response.
Speaking to Voicepk, petitioner Sehgal condemned the ban on X as a violation of fundamental rights. He pointed to his petition, lodged on March 5, and subsequent legal endeavours in the court as proactive measures aimed at contesting the ban.
The Lahore High Court is also hearing an application filed by journalist Shakir Mahmood Awan against the ban on X in the court of Justice Shahid Bilal. Notices have been issued to the involved parties, with responses due by April 18.
The closure of X since February 17, 2024 in Pakistan has sparked legal battles, with the Sindh High Court also considering a case against the closure. Documents submitted by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in the Sindh High Court purportedly link the imposed restrictions to directives from the federal Ministry of Interior.