IHC Chief Justice Furious Over MoI’s Handling of X Shutdown Case

The Islamabad High Court (IHC), under Chief Justice Amir Farooq, has expressed its frustration with the Ministry of Interior (MoI) over the absence of clear explanations provided for the closure of X. During a recent hearing, the court decried the ministry’s failure to offer concrete evidence or documents justifying the social media platform’s shutdown. It is pertinent to mention here that X was reportedly banned based on security concerns.

The situation was exacerbated when the Joint Secretary of the MoI, who appeared in front of the court, failed to produce any concrete files or detailed reasons for the closure of X. Chief Justice of the High Court, Aamir Farooq, in response, questioned the basis on which he should frame his verdict. Moreover, he noted that there was an absence of written reasons or substantial evidence to support claims of national security threats allegedly being spread through X.

In reply to the ministry’s reliance on verbal explanations and a report from the Intelligence Bureau (IB), which the Chief Justice depicted as speculative and lacking in detailed reasoning, the court summoned the Home Secretary to appear in person. This move highlights the court’s insistence on a more credible justification for the closure of Platform X.

The case also involves broader implications for content regulation and national security; therefore, it is being closely watched and under consideration in other courts as well. Chief Justice Farooq emphasized the need for the MoI to present decisions from other courts, if any, to guarantee a consistent legal approach to such matters of high significance.

The hearing has been adjourned until April 17, leaving the tech and legal communities in anticipation of how the judiciary will balance issues of security with digital freedoms.