PTA’s Changing Stance on X Ban Criticized by Sindh High Court Chief Justice
The Sindh High Court (SHC) has raised concerns over the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s (PTA) changing position on the ban of X (formerly Twitter), following a recent hearing on Monday. SHC Chief Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui expressed disappointment with PTA’s reversal of the Interior Ministry’s notification regarding the platform’s suspension.
During the hearing, the court questioned whether PTA’s actions constituted professional misconduct or misrepresentation. “Who gave you these instructions? Name the person,” asked Chief Justice Siddiqui, highlighting the inconsistency in PTA’s stance.
The deputy attorney general defended PTA, stating that the mistake was unintentional and due to an overload of cases. However, the court did not accept this explanation and indicated the possibility of contempt proceedings. It also suggested that PTA’s chairman could be summoned for further clarification on the issue.
The PTA’s lawyer was also criticized for offering information without being asked, especially after another PTA lawyer had previously claimed that no such instructions had been issued.
The case was adjourned until September 24, with the court consolidating PTA’s petition with related cases, leaving its prior orders unchanged.
PTA Seeks to Modify Court’s Order on X Ban
On Saturday, PTA had requested the SHC to amend or set aside its September 12 order, which was issued during a hearing on a petition challenging the suspension of X in Pakistan.
According to the court’s written order, one of PTA’s counsels, Ahsan Imam, had stated multiple times during a recent hearing that the Interior Ministry had withdrawn its February 17 notification regarding X’s ban in the country. The court noted that the federal government’s lawyer did not oppose this statement.
Imam’s statement had led to the court’s ruling that the platform should be restored, given there were no remaining impediments. However, PTA officials filed affidavits on Saturday, seeking to modify or recall the September 12 order, claiming the court’s ruling was based on incorrect information.
The affidavits explained that PTA’s counsel had made a mistake due to confusion, as another case involving a different notification was being heard before the same bench. This confusion, PTA stated, led to the passing of the September 12 order, which they argued had caused undue hardship for the authority.
PTA clarified that the instructions given were a result of a bona fide mistake, and they were seeking to correct the misunderstanding before the court.
The court will now continue hearing the matter on September 24, with further clarification expected on the PTA’s stance regarding the ban on X in Pakistan.
