ISLAMABAD - The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday dismissed a petition regarding internet facility in Parachinar after assurance from the Ministry of Interior.
A single bench of the IHC comprising Chief Justice of IHC Justice Athar Minallah conducted hearing of the petition filed by a student belonging to District Parachinar, which was an agency in the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas. The agency was merged as a district in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
During the hearing, Deputy Attorney General, the counsel for Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Munawwar Duggal and a representative of the Ministry of Interior appeared before the court for the hearing.
Interior Ministry’s representative informed the court that the Ministry of Defence had prepared a schedule for restoration of internet in the former FATA region. He said the schedule had also been shared with the PTA.
After the statement of interior ministry, the IHC Chief Justice observed that action was being taken on the petition of the applicant and dismissed the petition with necessary instructions.
The petitioner stated in his petition that he was aggrieved because respondent no 1 (Ministry of IT) and respondent no 2 (Pakistan Telecommunication Authority) had denied him and the general public of the right of access to internet.
His counsel contended that access to internet was a constitutionally guaranteed right and was an integral part of the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 19 and 19-A of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973.
He argued that on account of lockdown, the students were required to have access to the internet. Therefore, he also argued that students and the general public of the former FATA could not be denied their constitutionally guaranteed rights by refusing to give access to internet.