Ban on X: Sindh High Court hints at summoning PTA chairman for contempt

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 16 September 2024

The Sindh High Court expressed displeasure with PTA's conflicting statements regarding the ban on X. The court may summon the PTA chairman for contempt proceedings.

Summary

ISLAMABAD — The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday expressed displeasure over the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s (PTA) change of stance regarding the ban on X (formerly known as Twitter). The court hinted at the possibility of summoning the PTA chairman for contempt of court proceedings.

The review appeal being heard concerns the PTA’s retraction of the Ministry of Interior's notification about the ban on X. During the session, the SHC Chief Justice showed dissatisfaction with the PTA's conflicting positions and asked for clarity on who had authorized the retraction.

Earlier, a PTA lawyer had informed the court that the ban on X had been lifted. However, the government lawyer took a different stance during today’s proceedings, explaining that the earlier statement was made due to a misunderstanding. He clarified that no official decision had been taken by the PTA regarding the removal of the ban.

The SHC Chief Justice expressed concern about whether the PTA’s conflicting statements constituted professional misconduct or deliberate misrepresentation. He questioned the authority behind the instructions, observing the silence of the Deputy Attorney General during this critical issue. The chief justice remarked that the PTA chairman might need to be summoned to answer charges of contempt of court.

The government lawyer contended that the error was not intentional and reiterated that no formal instructions regarding the lifting of the ban had been communicated.

After hearing the arguments, the court decided to merge PTA’s request with related petitions on the matter and adjourned the hearing until September 24.