ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Monday heard the petition regarding the ban of social media app TikTok, calling it a violation of constitutional rights.
IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard the petition challenging the ban of widely used Chinese app that, was a source of earning for many middle-income people.
During the hearing, the judge said, “By taking this decision the PTA is also discouraging talent, Should we shut down every social media platform, since objectionable content is present on almost each and every one of them?”
He asserted, “Hate speech and pornography is not just on TikTok. This matter should be handled in a professional manner. A society’s values should be strong enough for people to not watch something wrong”. CJ Minallah further asked, “Do we want to be cut off from the rest of the world?”
Read also: TikTok removed over 9 million videos in Pakistan in last quarter: report
He mentioned to PTA authorities that why do they cite India’s example to ban the app, and in which other countries the app is banned. He added that as per the PTA’s affidavits submitted with the Peshawar and Sindh high courts, only one percent of the content on TikTok was objectionable. CJ Minallah asked if a social media expert was consulted before banning the app.
“The federal government and PTA should submit the names of social media experts to the court. Keeping all things in consideration, blocking the platform is a violation of rights enshrined in the Constitution. The PTA should satisfy the court in the next hearing,” said CJ in his final remarks. Furthermore, the court has adjourned the hearing till November 22.
It must be mentioned that TikTok has removed over 9 million videos from its platform for violating community guidelines in the second quarter of the current year.
