KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has banned TikTok, a short video sharing entertainment app, over “immoral content” and celebrating “LGBT-Pride Month”.
The SHC’s ruling came during a hearing, where the court issued a notice to the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) and directed him to follow the orders and get the app banned. The latest ban, the third within the last two years, will be applicable till at least July 8, which is the next date of hearing.
Presenting his arguments in the court, the petitioner’s lawyer said Peshawar High Court (PHC) had earlier banned TikTok as some videos uploaded on the platform are “immoral and against the teachings of Islam.”
The lawyer said his client had approached the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) before moving the court, however, the PTA did not take any action in this regard. The court has summoned the parties involved in the case on July 8.
“In view of such submission[s] by the representative of the defendant No. 2, the ban was lifted from the defendant No. 3, but the defendant No. 3, paying no heed to the constant undertakings and assurances given by them before various Courts and the defendant No., nor respecting the law and the basic injunctions of Islam as well as the culture of Pakistan, has recently started a social media campaign whereby they are celebrating ‘LGBT-Pride Month’,” read the court order.
“Let a notice be issued to the defendants as well a DAG [Deputy Attorney General] Pakistan for 08.07.2021 and till then the defendant No. 2 is hereby directed to suspend the operations of and/or access to the TikTok application in Pakistan,” it added.
On April 1, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) directed to lift the ban on popular video-sharing social networking service TikTok, directing the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to ensure non-access to unethical and objectionable material keeping in view the provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016.
