August 20, 2024
By Rana Malhi
ISLAMABAD
Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Aamer Farooq heard the petition filed by senior journalist Hamid Mir regarding slow internet speeds and the installation of a firewall today, August 20, and issued notices to respondents to submit their responses to the court.
Mir is being represented by Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir.
Justice Farooq inquired whether internet speeds were slow, and requested the petitioner’s counsel to explain what exactly is happening before the court issues any order.
“Which ministry is related to this issue? We need to find out the reason for the reduced internet speed. Should we ask the PTA or the Ministry of Information Technology?” Justice Farooq inquired, to which Mazari-Hazir argued that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has remained silent on the matter.
To the IHC Chief Justice’s question as to whether the Secretary or Joint Secretary be summoned, he petitioner’s counsel requested that senior officials from the relevant ministries be summoned.
“We will summon the person who is knowledgeable about the matter and can brief the court,” Justice Farooq stated, and issued notices to all relevant parties before ajourning the hearing till August 26.
In his petition, Mir requested the court to declare access to the internet and connectivity a fundamental right, pleading that “only reasonable restrictions on the same may be imposed by law and keeping in view the principles of necessity and proportionality.”
Mir urged the court to declare that there can be “no installation of any firewall that impacts citizens fundamental rights without, at the very least, extensive consultative process/consultations/deliberations with all relevant stakeholders and keeping in view Constitutional safeguards for fundamental rights.”
He further requested that the respondents submit a report with details of the “firewall”, and that all work on said firewall should be suspended and citizens should have uninterrupted access to the internet.