LHC moved against internet suspension

From Abid Usman

LAHORE: A petition has been filed in Lahore High Court (LHC) to restore internet services and social media platforms, which were disrupted after protests broke out following the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.

According to details, Lawyer Abuzar Salman Khan Niazi filed the petition in Lahore High Court (LHC) seeking restoration of internet services and social media platforms, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Federation of Pakistan through secretary ministry of information technology and telecommunication, Pakistan Tele-communication through its chairman, CM Pak Limited through its CEO, Pakistan Telecom Mobile Limited and others were made respondents.

In the petition, the lawyer stated that the court is requested to declare the impugned blockage as arbitrary, illegal, un-lawful, and constitutional which is tantamount to depriving the public of their basic right.

He contended that on May 9, the PTI chief was arrested but soon after his arrest, countrywide protest started as a re-sult of which the internet service was blocked.

Salman implored that it is a settled principle of law that information on matters of public importance is the foundation-al bedrock of representative democracy and the accountability of the chosen representatives.