Islamabad: Islamabad High Court (IHC) has sought report from Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) about slow speed of internet.
The court has sought this report for lack of information regarding slow internet.
The Chief Justice (CJ) IHC Aamir Farooq expressed annoyance over the counsel for ministry of Information Technology remarking ” if you don’t have knowledge then leave the rostrum. Leave other things. Economic loss which is connected with the internet has occurred. Free lancing is source of livelihood of several youths. This source of income is being affected due to lack of internet facility.
He further remarked on one side you say internet banking be carried out in Pakistan. On the other side internet is not functioning.
The CJ IHC gave these remarks during hearing of petition filed by senior journalist Hamid Mir against installation of firewall and slow speed of internet Monday.
Counsel Imaan Mazari appeared in the court on behalf of petitioner.
During the hearing of the case the co
urt summoned report from PTA.
The counsel for ministry of Information Technology (IT) told the court no such policy has been framed by ministry of IT.
The CJ IHC inquired from counsel for IT ministry why the internet is slow.
The counsel for IT ministry replied I have no information about it.
The CJ IHC while expressing annoyance over counsel for IT ministry remarked if you don’t have knowledge then leave the rostrum.
Assistant Attorney General (AAG) told the court submarine cable has been damaged.
The CJ IHC inquired from AAG has our cable to be damaged . Here neither it is known to petitioner nor it is in the knowledge of people who have come to court that what is happening in fact. If cable is damaged then responsibility for repairing it lies with whom.
The counsel for PTA told the court this is responsibility of several companies.
AAG told the court damage was caused to one sub marine cable first which was repaired on May 28. Later second cable was damaged and it will take one month to
repair it. At night message was received that one more cable has been damaged .
The CJ IHC remarked there is a petition of similar nature pending in Lahore High Court (LHC). Neither any one is accepting responsibility there nor here.
The counsel for PTI told the court if he is not briefed correctly then he will not represent them.
The CJ IHC remarked if cable is damaged then why you did not tell the people in this regard.
The CJ IHC while inquiring from AAG remarked “see the newspapers of previous ten days. There is contradiction in the statements of ministers and chairman PTA. Business community is complaining since the last ten days.
Imaan Mazari counsel for the petitioner told the court functions of specific mobile applications are not working. For example picture and voice notes cannot be sent on whatsapp which has nothing to do with cable marine.
The court remarked you are misleading the people. It is beyond comprehension people should trust on whom. Government officials gave different stat
ements in some previous days. Nation wants to know what is happening.
The court adjourned the hearing of the case till September 3.