The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has termed the TikTok ban in Pakistan as a violation of constitutional rights while asking the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to satisfy the court regarding the ban.
The development came as Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Athar Minallah was hearing a petition challenging the ban of the short video-sharing application. During the hearing, Justice Minallah asked, “Why did Pakistan Telecommunication Authority impose the ban?” and “Why should we shut down every social media platform, in wake of objectional content?”
The court remarked that TikTok had become a source of income for thousands of people in the country and such action opposed the constitutional rights of its users. The court added that hate speech or vulgar content, which were the main reason why the TikTok ban, are found everywhere on the internet and not just the app. If banning was the only way to control the problem then it must be implemented on all applications, the court said.
Furthermore, the court also added that PTA had submitted an affidavit at the Peshawar High Court (PHC) and the Sindh High Court (SHC), which read that TikTok contained only one percent objectionable material. However, the TikTok ban in Pakistan was still implemented by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
Justice Minallah directed PTA officials to handle the matter in a professional manner saying that society’s values should be strong enough for people to not watch such content. He also asked whether “any expert opinion was sought before blocking the social media platform?” and if it did, “the federal government and the PTA should submit names of social media experts in the court.”
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) adjourned the hearing till November 22, directing the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to satisfy the court in the next hearing.
Read more: TikTok banned in Pakistan AGAIN.
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