Senior journalist Hamid Mir has filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court through lawyer Imaan Mazari, challenging the installation of an internet firewall on Friday. The petitioner appealed to the court to stop the installation of the firewall, which he argues infringes on citizens' fundamental rights, and to declare internet access for livelihood as a basic human right under the constitution. The petition also requests that the court demand a detailed report on the firewall from the relevant parties and suspend the installation process until a decision is made. Furthermore, the petition appealed for the firewall installation should be contingent on consultations with all stakeholders and the protection of basic rights, with orders to ensure citizens have uninterrupted access to the internet.

The petition names the Cabinet Secretary, Secretary for Information and Technology (IT), Secretary of Interior, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), and Ministry of Human Rights as respondents. Pertinent to mention here that a second successful trial of the firewall installation was completed Thursday, with internet service providers installing the firewall after temporarily disabling social media apps. Audio and video downloading on social media platforms was suspended during the installation, and it is expected that social media services will return to normal in the next 2 to 3 days.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan