The Islamabad High Court (IHC) engaged in a rigorous interrogation of the Ministry of Interior’s assertion that “content uploaded on the internet” poses a significant threat to the national security of Pakistan.
The Ministry of Interior’s joint secretary conveyed these concerns during a hearing on a petition filed by journalist Ehtesham Abbasi, challenging the closure of X, previously known as Twitter, in Pakistan. This closure, initiated on February 17, has rendered the platform inaccessible to millions of users in the country for over a month.
During today’s hearing presided over by IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, the Interior Ministry’s joint secretary presented a report before the court. However, the court, led by Justice Farooq, demanded concrete evidence and written communication regarding the perceived threat to national security.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the verbal statements provided by the ministry, Justice Farooq emphasized, “Show us the documents. There will be no verbal conversation.” He insisted that the court required substantive evidence rather than mere assertions.
In response to the court’s queries, the joint secretary highlighted the alleged threat posed by internet content, citing concerns for national security. However, the court challenged this assertion, demanding tangible evidence to support the claim.
Justice Farooq directed the joint secretary to submit precedents from other courts concerning similar matters. Additionally, the court summoned the interior secretary to appear before it on April 17 for further clarification.
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