Suspension of cellular services: IHC adjourns PTA’s intra-court appeal

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday adjourned an intra-court appeal filed by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) challenging a single bench’s decision of declaring suspension of mobile phone services for security reasons illegal, ARY News reported.

A two-judge bench comprising Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani was hearing the appeal.

During the course of the hearing, deputy attorney general Adia Aziz contended that the PTA’s appeal was non-maintainable, adding that it should approach the Supreme Court as per rules.

A PTA counsel said a case related to mobile phone services was also pending in the top court. At this, the bench adjourned the hearing until a decision by the apex court in the case.

Last year in Feb, a single bench comprising Justice Athar Minallah had declared suspension of mobile phone services on the pretext of security as illegal. The verdict came on petitions challenging the government’s decision of frequently shutting down cellular services in the federal capital over security concerns.

Back in March 2016, residents of Islamabad took the federal authorities to the court for suspending mobile services for security reasons.

The petitioners submitted that the suspension of telecom services in the name of security greatly disturbed their lives, adding that such a practice was also illegal under the relevant telecom laws.

They pleaded with the court to restrain the government from shutting down the mobile services.

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