On August 26, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) summoned the Ministry of Information Technology to provide a comprehensive technical report addressing the persistent internet slowdown affecting users across Pakistan. The court, presided over by Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, also mandated that a technical representative from the Ministry be present at the next hearing, scheduled for September 3.
During the hearing, Chief Justice Farooq highlighted the critical role of the Internet in the modern economy, pointing out the contradictory statements from government officials regarding the cause of the internet slowdown. “Ministers give contradictory statements. One day we hear that a firewall has been installed; the next day, another official denies it. This inconsistency has left the entire nation confused,” remarked the Chief Justice.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) was represented by its legal counsel, who informed the court that the internet disruptions were initially due to two damaged submarine cables. “Now we have received messages that the third cable is also cut down,” the PTA lawyer stated. This revelation led Justice Farooq to question the responsibility for maintaining these critical infrastructure components, noting that similar issues are being addressed in the Lahore High Court (LHC) as well, with no clear resolution in sight.
The court also heard from Deputy Attorney General, who dismissed the notion that installing any government device, such as a firewall, was behind the slow internet speeds. However, the Chief Justice remained unconvinced, emphasizing that the internet issues had persisted for over ten days, affecting not just the business sector but also ordinary citizens who rely heavily on stable internet connections for their daily activities.
Advocate Imaan Mazari, representing the petitioner, added that while general internet services were functioning, specific platforms like WhatsApp were experiencing significant disruptions, making it difficult for users to send messages and media.
In response to the ongoing confusion and the government’s lack of a satisfactory explanation, Chief Justice Farooq ordered a detailed report to be submitted by September 3, 2024. The court has also demanded clarification on whether the internet disruptions are related to any national security concerns. “If this is a matter of national interest, the government must provide a clear and detailed explanation. The public deserves to know what is happening,” the Chief Justice insisted.
Adding to the tension, Shazia Fatima, the Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication, publicly denied any intentional throttling of internet speed, attributing the slowdown to the increased use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). Meanwhile, PTA Chairman retired Maj Gen Hafeezur Rehman dismissed the firewall allegations, stating that the current issues were due to the ongoing upgrade of the government’s web management system, not a firewall installation.
The IHC has adjourned the case until September 3, 2024.
