KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Tuesday directed the parties concerned to advance arguments about the jurisdiction of its regular or constitutional benches to hear and decide a set of petitions filed against a ban on social media platforms as well as suspension of mobile and internet services.

At the outset of the hearing, a two-judge regular bench of SHC comprising Chief Justice Mohammad Shafi Siddiqui and Justice Jawad Akbar Sarwana observed that before proceeding further with these matters, it will decide the jurisdiction’s issue first.

The bench asked the lawyers for the petitioners and a federal law officer as to whether these petitions fall within the jurisdiction of regular benches or recently formed constitutional benches of the SHC to proceed with the same and directed them to argue on the subject issue on Dec 18.

The petitioners had approached the SHC against restriction to access to social media platforms including X and disturbance of mobile internet and broadband services during and after the general elections.

Initially, the SHC through an interim order had directed the respondents to ensure the provision of smooth and uninterrupted internet services, as well as access to social media platforms, unless relevant laws were invoked and also specifically ordered to restore X if there was no justification or reasonable grounds for its closure.

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2024