IHC Moves Forward with Petition on Slow Internet, Firewalls

News Desk

Islamabad:  The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has rejected the Registrar’s Office’s objections to a petition challenging slow internet speeds and the installation of firewalls. The court has scheduled the hearing for tomorrow.

Chief Justice Aamer Farooq of the Islamabad High Court reviewed the objections raised against the petition.

During the hearing, the petitioner’s lawyer, Imaan Mazari, pointed out that the Registrar’s Office had raised objections. Chief Justice Farooq indicated that three of these objections would be addressed by the court, while the fourth related to the use of inappropriate language in the petition.

Mazari clarified that the petition included only a tweet, which contained no inappropriate language, and requested that the hearing be scheduled for the following day. The court agreed to this request and scheduled the case for tomorrow, dismissing the Registrar’s Office’s objections.

On August 16, a petition was filed with the Islamabad High Court challenging the installation of firewalls and the restriction of internet access. Senior journalist Hamid Mir, represented by lawyer Imaan Mazari, filed the petition against the Secretary of the Cabinet, Secretary of Information Technology (IT), Secretary of the Interior, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), and the Ministry of Human Rights.

The petition seeks to halt the installation of firewalls, arguing that such measures infringe on citizens’ fundamental rights.

It contends that the installation of firewalls should be contingent upon consultation with all stakeholders and the protection of fundamental rights, including access to the internet, which should be recognized as a basic human right under the Constitution.