IHC Asks Govt to Give its Stance on Frequent Shutdown of Mobile Services

Recently the Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued a notice to the Attorney General of Pakistan. In the notice IHC asked the federal government to provide its stance over the repeated suspension of mobile phone service in the capital.

IHC Asks Govt to Give its Stance on Frequent Shutdown of Mobile Services

Mobile phone services are usually suspended during all crucial religious and political events.

On September 26, Munawwar Iqbal Duggal, the counsel for PTA, had revealed that, it could not direct suspension of mobile phone service of its own accord. And that the authority was only obeying the orders delivered by the federal government.

Also Read: Court Petitions Against Frequent Shutdown of Mobile Phone Services

According to the order, PTA is inevitable to suspend mobile services within six hours of getting a request. PTA receives orders from the government, law enforcement agencies, Inter-Services Intelligence or the army.

Umer Gilani, counsel for the supplicants, has been disagreeing that the directive is unlawful. As it is not mentioned in Section 54 of the PTA Act, which states that cellular services can only be suspended when an emergency situation is declared.

He further added that the order could only be issued by the prime minister alone without being deliberated or sanctioned by the whole federal cabinet.

Source: The Express Tribune