ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday declared suspension of mobile networks across the Country by the federal government as ‘illegal’.
The decision was announced on petitions filed against the blockage of cellular services under the pretext of ‘security’ during key events in different parts of the Country.
The IHC judge Justice Athar Minallah had reserved the verdict on September 21 last year after hearing the arguments from parties.
During the course of hearing, Justice Athar Minallah remarked that cellular Services can only be suspended in an emergency.
“While services can be suspended, it can only be done so after an emergency has been proclaimed,” Justice Athar Minallah said while referring the sub-section (3) of Section 54 of the Pakistan Telecommunications (Reorganisation) Act, 1996.”
It is worth mentioning here that the federal government shuts mobile services across the Country especially in the Federal Capital every time on the eve of national days such as Independence Day, Pakistan Day, Defence Day, Eid Miladun Nabi and Ashura in the periphery of events organized with reference to that particular day.
