IHC seeks assistance about its jurisdiction in erstwhile tribal areas Internet case

Abdullah Momand

ISLAMABAD:The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday sought assistance regarding its jurisdiction in case seeking provision of internet facility in erstwhile tribal areas and Chief Justice Athar Minallah remarked that this court had marked unlawful of suspension of internet services being a human rights issue and directed Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to provide Internet facility in erstwhile tribal areas however, the apex court had set aside this order.

The petitioner’s lawyer Abdul Raheem Wazir while arguing in court said that the internet services have been suspended in the tribal areas since 2016 due to unknown reason which are damaging the future of thousands of students in merged districts of KP and their future stalled having no access to internet that’s why internet should be restored in these areas.

The chief justice while mentioning the apex court decision asked the counsel of the petitioner to satisfy the bench keeping in view the Supreme Court’s judgment on this matter.

Chief Justice Athar Minallah resumed hearing on a petition filed by a student, Syed Muhammad from Kurram district and a student of NUML university Islamabad. 

The petitioner said that thousands of students are not being able to take online classes because there are no 3G or 4G services in the former tribal areas. Many students are missing out on their education because of this, the petition added.

The interior ministry submitted its written reply in the case and said that the provincial government was supposed to restore the internet services.

The court summoned advice on its jurisdiction on hearing the case as the case pertains to the KP government.

This court cannot issues instructions to any province, said Justice Minallah and suggested to read a judgment of the Supreme Court to decide on this matter.

The court while hearing all stake holders adjourned the case infinitely.