PTA admits internet shutdown, low speed

LAHORE/PESHAWAR: The Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA) has admitted internet shutdown and low speed across the country during the hearing of a petition against internet shutdown in the Lahore High Court (LHC).

Justice Shakeel Ahmed heard the petition filed by Advocate Nadeem Sarwar against the shutdown and slow speed of the internet across the country on Wednesday.

The petitioner remarked that shutting down the internet was a violation of fundamental rights as it had affected every sphere of life.

In the petition, it was requested that the decision of the federal government to shut down the internet should be annulled and orders should be issued to restore the internet completely and immediately in the country.

The PTA submitted that internet has been slowed down due to four reasons, including damage to the submarine cable, internet company’s wrong action, cyberattack on Indian National Day in August and excessive use of VPN.

The federal government, minister of information, law minister and other relevant authorities have also submitted their replies. The hearing of the case was adjourned till August 27.

Meanwhile, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday issued notices to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and federal secretary information technology on a petition filed against the internet disruption in the country.

A bench comprising Justice Ejaz Anwar and Justice Mohammad Ejaz Khan heard the petition filed through Nauman Mohib Kakakhel, advocate.

Mohib Kakakhel told the bench that the internet speed had slowed down in the country, which was causing inconvenience to users. He said internet had become a basic necessity for citizens and businesspeople. The lawyer said citizens as well as students doing research had been affected by throttling of the internet.

During the hearing, Justice Ejaz Anwar asked what was a firewall and why was it being installed? The lawyer replied that firewall was a system to control the flow of information on digital platforms.

Justice Ejaz Anwar said this issue had been going on for the last several days. He said the government had taken the plea that the issue was linked to the use of VPNs. Mohib Kakakhel said the entire country was facing this problem but the government was doing nothing to rectify the situation. The people were compelled to use VPNs as the internet speed had slowed down and they could not use various applications and were facing problems in downloading data, he added.