Internet facility in Parachinar: Secretary Interior, PTA chief directed to submit replies

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday directed secretary Interior and chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to submit their replies regarding internet facility in Parachinar district.

A single bench of IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard the petition of a student from District Parachinar, which was an agency in the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas. The agency was merged as a district in the province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

During the hearing, a representative of Ministry of Information Technology (IT) informed that Interior Ministry had imposed ban on internet in the area in 2016. Therefore, the court directed the Interior Ministry to submit reply in this regard, and also deputed an authorised person to inform the court, why the petitioner and other people of the area were deprived of access to internet.

The case was adjourned until April 28.

The petitioner stated he is aggrieved because Ministry of IT and the PTA had denied him and the general public the right of access to internet in Parachinar.

He contended that access to internet was a constitutionally guaranteed right and was an integral part of the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 19 and 19-A of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973.

He further argued that on account of lockdown, the students were required to have access to the internet.

Therefore, he also argued that the students and the general public of the former FATA could not be denied their constitutionally guaranteed rights by refusing to give access to the internet.

Previously, the court had noted in its order, "Both the respondents are directed to nominate their respective authorised officers to appear before this court on the next date of hearing, and explain as to why access to internet has been denied to the petitioner and the general public of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas."

It also said; "The respondents are also directed to submit a report before the next date of hearing. In the meanwhile respondents are directed to take appropriate measures to restore the internet 3G/4G facilities in the former Federally Administered Trial Areas."