Humayun Khan
PESHAWAR: Peshawar High Court (PHC) ordered Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for immediate removal of all content deemed blasphemous as well as objectionable from the Tik Tok, (social media) platform and adjourned further hearing till 24th July, on Wednesday.
PHC divisional bench comprising of Justice SM Attique and Justice Shakeel Ahmad issued these directions on a plea filed by a citizen named Imran, who alleged that Tik Tok is using to spread religious hatred and obscene content in Pakistan.
Barrister Babar Shahzad Imran argued that Tik Tok being used to spread religious hatred and obscene content, which was against the laws of the land and the Constitution of Pakistan. He further argued that the platform being using to promote immorality and blasphemy in the society.
The petitioner’s lawyer also referred to previous court orders and government actions against social media including ban imposed on Tik Tok in March 2021. He argued that Tik Tok is continuously used to spread objectionable content and added that PTA had failed to prevent uploading of such content from the social media platform.
PTA lawyer Jahan Zeb Mehsud informed PHC that the authority had already blocked many objectionable videos on Tik Tok. But the petitioner’s lawyer argued that more needed to be done to stop the spread of such content.
Barrister Babar argued that Tik Tok had a large user base in Pakistan, with over 54.4 million users, and that the platform had the potential to be used for both positive and negative purposes. PHC also observed that this was a national issue and that the PTA should take a keen interest in it. PHC’s divisional bench comprised of Justice SM Atique Shah and Justice Shakeel Ahmed ordered PTA to immediately remove all objectionable content from Tik Tok and to submit a report within seven days.
