The Islamabad High Court (IHC) disposed of a petition seeking restoration of internet facility in Parachinar, Kurram district, after an assurance in this regard from the Ministry of Interior.
A single bench of IHC, comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah Monday heard a petition of a student seeking internet facility in Parachinar.
The deputy attorney general, counsel for Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Munawwar Duggal and a representative of the Ministry of Interior appeared before the court for the hearing.
The Interior Ministry’s representative informed the court that the Ministry of Defence has prepared a schedule for restoration of the internet in the former Fata region. “The schedule has also been shared with the PTA,” the bench was informed.
After a statement of the interior ministry, the chief justice observed that action is being taken on the petition of the applicant and dismissed the petition with necessary instructions.
The petitioner stated in petition that he is aggrieved because the Ministry of IT and the PTA had denied him and the general public the right of access to the internet in Parachinar. He contended that access to the internet is a constitutionally guaranteed right and was an integral part of the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 19 and 19-A of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973.
Abdul Rahim Wazir, the petitioner’s counsel, had argued before the court during the previous hearing that access to the internet was a constitutionally guaranteed right and an integral part of fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 19 and 19-A of the Constitution.
The counsel further contended that it was vital for students to have internet connection on account of the lockdown.
Students living in the former FATA region have been facing problems in continuing their studies through online teaching during the lockdown because of an absence of internet facility. They have even staged a series of protests in Islamabad.