Court Frustrated by Internet Slowdown Response

The Islamabad High Court expressed significant frustration over the government’s inability to offer a clear explanation for the ongoing nationwide internet slowdown. During a recent court session, Chief Justice Amir Farooq sharply criticized the conflicting statements issued by government officials regarding the issue, which has notably disrupted Pakistan’s expanding freelance sector.

The case, which was brought to the court by petitioners concerned about the persistent internet problems and the implementation of a firewall, was heard by Chief Justice Farooq. Despite the seriousness of the matter, the lawyer representing the Ministry of Information Technology was unable to provide specific information or reasons for the nationwide decrease in internet speed. This lack of clarity led to evident dissatisfaction from Chief Justice Farooq.

Internet slowdown due to issues with submarine cables: PTA

The chief justice posed a direct question, “Why is the internet slow?” However, the government’s response was inadequate. The Ministry of IT’s lawyer admitted, “I do not have any information about this. The Ministry of Information Technology has not enacted any policy related to this issue.” This response failed to address the concerns of the court, further aggravating the situation.

The assistant attorney general explained that the internet slowdown was due to damage to submarine cables. He noted that one cable had been severed and was expected to be repaired by August 28, while a second cable was also damaged, with repairs anticipated to take up to a month. He further informed the court that another submarine cable had been cut recently.

Despite this explanation, the court remained unsatisfied. Chief Justice Amir Farooq questioned, “What about the people who have come to the court? If the cable is damaged, who is responsible for its repair?”

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The PTA’s lawyer replied that the repair of damaged cables falls under the responsibility of multiple companies.

Chief Justice Farooq expressed frustration over the recurring issues with Pakistan’s cables, asking, “Why do we always face such problems with our cables?” He criticized the government for failing to properly communicate with the public about the causes of the slowdown, stating, “If the cable is cut, why hasn’t the public been informed?”

He also mentioned that a similar case was being heard in Lahore, where responsibility was also being denied. The Chief Justice emphasized, “If I am not adequately briefed, I will not continue with the case,” reflecting his dissatisfaction with the current situation and the lack of accountability.

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The Chief Justice remarked, “Over the past 10 days, newspaper reports reveal contradictions between the statements of ministers and the PTA chairman. Additionally, the business community has been raising complaints during this period.”

Imaan Mazari, the petitioner’s lawyer, noted that certain mobile applications, including WhatsApp, were malfunctioning, with issues affecting photo sharing and voice notes. She contended that these problems were not due to submarine cable damage and suggested that the real issue might be the government’s efforts to upgrade its monitoring system, which has contributed to the overall confusion.

The Chief Justice also highlighted the economic impact of the internet slowdown, stressing that many young individuals depend on freelancing for their livelihood, and the disruption has led to substantial financial losses. He criticized the government for advocating digital initiatives such as internet banking while failing to ensure the reliability of the underlying infrastructure needed to support these services.

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“Set aside other issues; the economic damage caused by the internet problems is already evident,” Chief Justice Farooq emphasized, highlighting the wider economic impact of the internet issues on Pakistan. He added, “You are misleading the public. It’s unclear who people should trust.”

Due to the government’s inadequate responses and the conflicting statements from various officials, the Islamabad High Court has ordered the member technical of the Ministry of Information Technology to attend the next hearing in person on September 3. The court has also requested a comprehensive report on the issue to be submitted at that time.

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