• SHC asks federal authorities to ‘ensure smooth and uninterrupted’ access to social media platforms
• Caretaker PM, army chief urge youth not to heed ‘negative propaganda’ on social media

KARACHI / ISLAMABAD: Amid frequent outages of internet services in the run-up to the Feb 8 elections, the Sindh High Court on Wednesday directed the federal authorities to ensure the provision of “smooth and uninterrupted” access to online platforms unless the relevant laws were invoked.

A two-member bench of the high court issued these directives in response to a petition moved by independent candidate Jibran Nasir, in which he expressed his grievances against the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for disturbing internet services without any cogent reason.

The bench headed by Chief Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi issued notices to the ministries of information technology and telecommunication and interior, and the PTA for Jan 29. It asked the respondents as well as the deputy attorney general to file replies before the next hearing.

“...respondents are directed to ensure that unless the provision of Section 8 and Section 54 of the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-Organization) Act, 1996, read with Rule 5 of Removal and Blocking of Unlawful Online Content (Procedure, Oversight and Safeguards) Rules, 2021, are attracted, there shall be no disruption and shutting down of mobile internet and broadband services,” the court order said. It directed the authorities to ensure smooth and uninterrupted internet services and access to social media platforms.

‘Abrupt disruptions’

Mr Nasir, while referring to at least three incidents — Dec 17, Jan 7, and Jan 20 — of internet outages in his petition, said it appeared that there was an intent to stop political parties as well as independent candidates from using social media for their election campaigns. The plea contended that no reasonable explanation had been given for “such abrupt interruptions and shutting of social media platforms”.

Instead of remedying the grievance by removing technical errors, if any, the IT ministry and the PTA during a press conference on Jan 22 stated that there was a likelihood of further interruptions for the next 90 days, the petitioner added.

According to the plea, the petitioner and the public at large have serious apprehension about interruption and closure of internet services [which] may be used as pre-poll rigging for the reason that neither media persons nor social media users, as well as the public, will be in a position to report any event of rigging on the polling day.

He contended that such disruption amounted to denying the access of the public to information about national affairs. This practice “will create serious doubt even on the fair and transparent elections in the eyes of the public and international community”, the petition added.

He asked the SHC to declare the act of the respondents unconstitutional, illegal and in violation of several constitutional provisions, relevant laws, and policy directives issued in December 2009 by the Ministry of IT & Telecom. He also sought directives for respondents to ensure that there must be no further disruption and shutting down mobile and broadband internet services so the petitioner and other candidates could access voters in their respective constituencies through social media, which is their fundamental right.

National Youth Convention

Separately, the caretaker prime minister and Chief of the Army Staff Gen Asim Munir at an event in the federal capital urged the youth to resist propaganda unleashed against Pakistan by ‘its enemies’.

Addressing the Pakistan National Youth Convention at the Jinnah Conv­ention Centre, caretaker premier Anwaarul Haq Kakar said: “As responsible citizens of Pakistan, we must all reject and collectively fight the vicious propaganda onslaught that the enemies of Pakistan have unlea­shed against Pakistan in the recent past.”

Mr Kakar appreciated the role of the armed forces in the fight against terrorism.

“Pakistan’s successes in war against terrorism would not have been possible without the participation and support of the youth which makes up to 65 per cent of our population,” he added.

He said the youth could play a constructive role in dealing with this “emerging national security challenge” provided they remain focused, and “fact-checked all details through authentic information from the state institutions rather than falling prey to propaganda”.

‘Need for unity’

Gen Munir, who attended the event as its chief guest, emphasised the need for unity in the nation and the importance of national unity and harmony to overcome multifarious challenges confronted by the country. “There can be no progress without internal cohesion,” he added.

According to Radio Pakistan, the army chief said the “negative propaganda, being spread on social media, is aimed at creating uncertainty and hopelessness in the country”.

He stressed the need for “double-checking the news on social media”.

He said without proper research and positive thinking, there will be a chaos in the society.

Gen Munir recounted the sacrifices made by the nation against terrorism and cautioned against “machinations of Pakistan’s ill-wishers [who are] contributing towards extreme polarisation in the society”.

He reaffirmed the resolve of the armed forces to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan against all threats with the help and support of the nation.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2024