The Lahore High Court’s Justice Shakil Ahmad criticized the state counsel for lack of “knowledge” about internet disruptions countrywide.
Since last week, users have been complaining slowdowns and issues accessing messaging and social media programs on major web platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp.
The country’s IT minister officially acknowledged a day ago that the government was, in fact, updating its “web management system” to handle cyber security risks, putting an end to months of rumors that the development of “firewall” may be causing internet problems.
The government has requested a report about the internet outage from the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) and other organizations, according to Minister of State for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja.
PTA officials said a Senate committee that the telecom regulator was “assessing the issue,” and that when the evaluation is over in two weeks, the IT ministry will be better able to offer an overview.
The interruptions to the internet might cost the nation’s economy up to $300 million, according to the Pakistan Software Houses Association.
The judge, after conferring with the appropriate authorities, mandated at the beginning of the hearing that the representative of the federal government appear before the court by 12 p.m.
State attorney Rana Nauman came before the court when the hearing was back in session and asked to be allowed more time to provide the government with a “detailed report on the internet outages.”
“We need to inquire with the PTA about the reason behind the slow internet and what’s been going on,” the attorney said.
Justice Ahmad made the following observation at this point: “This is a matter of the general interest and your level of seriousness is that you do not even have sufficient details [about this issue].”
Justice Ahmad reiterated that the petition was of public interest and promised to provide the necessary orders in this regard.
