PUBG ban in Pakistan - Update from IHC hearing

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) held another hearing regarding the PUBG ban in Pakistan on Tuesday (14 July) and reserved its earlier verdict.

PUBG ban Pakistan — PUBG ban in Pakistan – Updates regarding case in IHC.

Justice Amir Farooq of the IHC asked the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority over why a psychologist wasn’t consulted if the game was impacting children psychologically.

He further asked Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) what clause was actually used to impose a PUBG ban in Pakistan as there should be an actual law broken by the game otherwise PUBG should be unbanned in Pakistan.

PTA lawyer told the court that the online multiplayer game PUBG was banned because it contained indecent and explicit scenes and “anti-Islamic” material which is not true.

However, the court was not satisfied by the statement of PTA lawyers as the game was banned on the motion that it was negatively impacting children and causing violence tendencies but when all else failed, PTA lawyers changed the reason behind the ban entirely.

Although there have been instances where PUBG introduced some items in the game that were deemed offensive to Muslims like the collectible gift box resembling the Ka’bah, the game developers quickly took action after receiving complaints and changed the appearance of the item completely.

The court was also informed that the suspension was suggested by Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Zulfiqar Hameed to which the judge asked whether Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) would ban anything that is suggested by the officer.

Petition filed at Sindh High Court against PUBG ban in Pakistan

Pakistani social media personality and TV host Waqar Zaka has also filed a petition in the Sindh High Court to have the PUBG ban removed. The hearing of the case on 13 July 2020 was not admitted and is pending until next hearing according to Zaka who was present at the court.

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