SHC issued contempt of court to PTA due to Twitter X ban

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued a written ruling regarding the contempt of court petition to PTA owing to Twitter X’s closure in Pakistan. The court’s ruling underlines severe concerns about the app’s closure and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s (PTA) failure to offer a credible reason.

The SHC issued a contempt court notice to the PTA chairman during the hearings. The court expressed concern with the PTA’s failure to provide a reasonable logic for the app’s closure.

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SHC also prolonged the continuing stay order regarding X app restoration. In addition, the SHC ordered a copy of court directions to the PTA and federal government. It will ensure that all relevant stakeholders are held accountable for their activities.

The court issued notice to the PTA chairman regarding the contempt of court petition. Meanwhile, the federal government and the PTA have requested time to respond. Until the next hearing, the court has requested responses from the Interior Ministry and the telecom authorities.

The app “X” service has not been restored despite the court orders. It raises questions about judicial effectiveness. Lawyer Abdul Moiz Jafri emphasized the need to follow the court’s orders and quickly restore the X app.

Furthermore, the court has requested a response from the Ministry of Interior and the PTA before the next hearing. It shows the commitment of the court to address the problem completely.

Click here to read updates on SHC’s order to stop internet suspension until the 2024 elections

The court has given the federal government and the PTA time to respond highlighting the significance of transparency and responsibility in resolving the issue. The court also expressed concern that the PTA chairman’s actions could result in contempt proceedings.

Pakistan’s media regulators disrupted service to X for the consecutive days since February 22, 2024. Access to X remained restricted in Pakistan since January before the elections on Feb 8, 2024.

Meanwhile, the Sindh High Court (SHC) ordered the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to stop internet disruption until the general elections on January 25, 2024.