IHC seeks help in plea demanding 3G/4G services in tribal areas.

Byline: Malik Asad

ISLAMABAD -- The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday sought assistance from the counsel for a petitioner seeking restoration of internet services in tribal disAAtricts whether it can intervene to enfAoArce fundamental rights in the former tribal agencies which have already been merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The internet services to the region were suspended in 2016 on security grounds.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah sought the counsel's help when the latter said the petitioner was seeking restoration of 3G/4G internet services because suspension of the internet services had caused problems for students in these areas as they could not attend online classes owing to the lockdown triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Supreme Court recently set aside an IHC verdict that had barred the federal government from suspending mobile phone services in some areas on special occasions, terming it a violation of the fundamental rights of people.

Justice MinAallah advised counsel Abdul Rahim Wazir to advance further arguments in the light of the apex court's judgement. The IHC, therefore, expected that measures would be taken to restore 3G/4G internet services in tribal areas at the earliest to enable the people and students living in those areas to enjoy their fundamental rights, Justice Minallah said.

Internet connectivity was suspended in erstwhile Fata a few years ago for security reasons

The information technology ministry, during a previous hearing, had informed the court that due to security reasons the interior ministry had suspended the internet facility in certain areas of the former tribal areas in 2016.

According to the petitioner's counsel, access to the internet was a constitutionally guaranteed right and an integral part of the fundamental rights guaranteed unAAder Articles 19 and 19-A of the Constitution.

He...