PTA has revealed that internet shutdowns across the country are executed based on government directives. This disclosure has ignited a heated debate within the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology, raising significant concerns about the legality and justifications for disrupting digital services.
The session, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan, focused on the ongoing issue of internet slowdowns, which have been a major point of frustration for many citizens and businesses. The PTA’s admission that Pakistan currently ranks 97th globally in internet speed only added fuel to the fire, as the committee members questioned the reasons behind the country’s lagging digital infrastructure.
PTA Chairman Retired Major General Hafeezur Rehman faced rigorous questioning from lawmakers about the authority’s handling of internet disruptions. According to Rehman, the PTA receives an average of 500 complaints daily regarding objectionable content on social media platforms. In response, he explained,
“We request social media platforms to block such content, and 80% of the material is successfully removed.”
However, the committee was less concerned with the PTA’s efforts to manage online content and more focused on the far-reaching consequences of internet shutdowns.
Senator Kamran Murtaza from JUI-F raised questions regarding the legal basis for shutting down the internet in specific areas. He asked,
“Which law permits this? How can you disrupt internet services without legal grounds?”
Rehman responded by clarifying that the PTA does not independently initiate such shutdowns.
“The government instructs us to impose internet shutdowns. If this is illegal, why has the government been directing us to do so for the past nine years?”
Rehman emphasized, adding that he could provide exact dates and times when these shutdowns took place.
The committee expressed further concerns about the growing trend of internet shutdowns, especially after receiving directives from the interior ministry. While the PTA chairman acknowledged that such shutdowns had become a recurring practice since 2016, he noted that they had recently been deemed unlawful. Rehman stated that the interior ministry must provide a final legal opinion on the matter.
The discussion also extended to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), with Senator Murtaza challenging its provisions. A legal representative from the IT ministry conceded that the act does not explicitly authorize internet blackouts in specific areas. However, the PTA argued that existing regulations give the interior ministry the authority to issue such directives. The challenge, however, lies in the absence of clear laws specifically addressing the blocking of internet services in particular geographic regions.
Senator Murtaza voiced his concerns about the far-reaching impact of internet shutdowns, particularly on education, business, and access to information. He criticized the decision to block the internet for political reasons, stating,
“This is equivalent to pushing people into ignorance for political purposes.”
The senator emphasized that education, business activities, and access to libraries are all severely disrupted when the internet is shut down.
The committee members further questioned the legality of ongoing shutdowns if there is no clear legal framework in place to justify such actions. They demanded that the ministries of Law and Interior provide detailed legal opinions to clarify the situation and ensure that the committee can make informed decisions regarding future actions.
In response to further questions about the regulation of VPNs, PTA Chairman Rehman revealed that only two companies had applied for VPN service licenses thus far. Despite the shutdowns, VPN services remain operational, with Rehman asserting that he had not authorized the closure of VPN services.
PTI Senator Mohammad Humayun Mohmand pointed out that the rules governing internet shutdowns only mention the blocking of content, not the entire network. In turn, Rehman questioned whether actions taken on the orders of the Supreme Court or high courts, such as app shutdowns and internet restrictions, could also be deemed illegal.
As the debate grew more intense, Rehman reminded the committee members,
“You’ve all been part of the government at some point. These shutdowns were implemented under official directives.”
This remark underscored the fact that internet shutdowns had been executed based on official channels, raising questions about accountability within the government.
Amid these discussions, the PTA chairman also highlighted that increasing fiberisation is essential for improving internet speeds in the country. However, he stressed that the responsibility for expanding fiber networks lies with the government. Without significant investments in digital infrastructure, he warned that slow internet speeds would persist, hampering Pakistan’s overall digital progress.
The committee members concluded the session by calling for detailed legal opinions from the Ministries of Law and Interior. They emphasized the need for greater clarity on the overlap between existing regulations and the broader framework established by PECA to ensure that future actions are in line with the law.
This intense debate marks a turning point in Pakistan’s ongoing struggle with internet governance, digital rights, and the legal boundaries surrounding internet shutdowns. The outcome of these discussions could pave the way for clearer regulations, ensuring that digital access in Pakistan is both secure and in accordance with the law.
