Lahore: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has given the federal government a final chance to justify the suspension of the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) in Pakistan. Chief Justice Aalia Neelum questioned the process and authority behind the ban, warning that failure to provide a satisfactory response could lead to the summoning of the cabinet head.
A three-member bench, led by Chief Justice Aalia Neelum, heard multiple petitions against the ban on X, including one filed by journalist Shakir Awan and another by Huzaifa Naeem through Advocate Waseem Ahmed.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) chairman appeared before the court and submitted a written response. However, the court expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s explanations.
During the hearing, the government’s lawyer, Asad Bajwa, stated that the Ministry of Interior lacks a system to monitor internet usage. This prompted Justice Neelum to question how the ministry could shut down X but not track its usage.
When informed that the PTA had formed a committee regarding the matter, Justice Neelum dismissed it as a delaying tactic, saying, "Is this committee meant to mislead the court?"
Furthermore, the government admitted it had no official agreement with X, leading the chief justice to question, "If there's no agreement, why would X respond to your requests?"
Justice Ali Zia Bajwa inquired whether PTA’s official account on X was still active, to which the PTA chairman confirmed it was. This led to criticism from the bench, with Justice Bajwa questioning how PTA could block the platform yet continue using it itself.
The PTA chairman initially admitted that VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) were being used to access X in Pakistan, including by government agencies. However, upon realizing the legal implications, he quickly retracted his statement, saying, "I have just been informed that we are not using VPNs."
Justice Farooq Haider asked whether VPNs could be blocked, to which the PTA chairman replied that it would take time. Justice Neelum remarked, "It has been a year, yet nothing has been done. Now you say you need another month?"
The court also raised concerns about the impact of the X ban on freelancers, banks, and IT professionals who rely on VPNs for their work.
Justice Ali Zia Bajwa emphasized that PTA has the authority to block specific content but not entire platforms, stating, "You can restrict inappropriate content, but you cannot block X completely."
Expressing disappointment with PTA’s lack of preparation and data, Chief Justice Aalia Neelum warned that the court’s time was being wasted and hinted at possible contempt of court proceedings.
Finally, the court gave the government a last chance to submit a comprehensive justification for the ban. The next hearing is scheduled for April 8, 2025.
