The Lahore High Court (LHC) has summoned the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) management and the federation over a notice issued by the PTA to all cellular service providers ordering them to filter what the PTA terms ‘obscene and indecent’ words.
The PTA management and the federation have been summoned to give an explanation for the notice issued by the authority on November 14, which ordered all cellular services providers to censor a list of word drawn up by the PTA.
PTA drew severe criticism from cellular services providers, the masses and the international media upon issuance of the list. After the unexpected reaction, PTA decided to softly back out from the decision, saying that the idea had been shelved for the moment, as the list was being reviewed to cut down the number of words. About 1,600 words were included in the initial list, out of which 1,000 were English and about 500 were Urdu words. Hundreds of words included in the list are words used in routine speech. PTA’s step was challenged in court on November 23 on the basis of restricting the freedom of speech, in violation of a right enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan, while also making a mockery of the country in the international media.
Following the PTA’s issuance of the list, the international media, including CNN, BBC and ABC news pounced on the decision and criticised it severely, said the petitioner, Syed Waqar Hassan, through his counsels Barrister Rizwan ahmed and Kahlid Ishaque.
Judge Mohammed Furrukh Irfan directed the issuance of notices against the PTA and the federation, and sought reply within 14 days, declaring the matter of blocking and filtering of SMS via list as sub-judice. The matter would be decided in court on legal merit.
stay EXTENDED IN WAPDA fuel adjustment case: Justice Muhammad Khalid Mehmood Khan of the Lahore High Court on Tuesday extended the stay against recovery of fuel adjustment charges on electricity bills till December 13. The court was hearing scores of identical petitions challenging recovery of fuel adjustment charges levied on electric bills of industrial and domestic consumers.
On Tuesday, the federal government, Nepra, Pepco and WAPDA submitted their para-wise comments and report in the matter. However, the petitioners’ counsel requested the court to allow time to review the comments submitted by the respondents.
The court accepting the request adjourned the hearing till December 13 and extended the stay granted earlier against recovery of fuel adjustment charges for months of April and May. The court was hearing several identical petitions filed by Gulshan Spinning Mills and others that had named WAPDA, NEPRA and others.
The petitioners submitted that they had paid electricity bills for the month of April, May and June but respondents acting retrospectively added 20 percent amount as fuel adjustment charges for months of April, May to the bill of October.
They contended that per law no notification having adverse financial impact could be issued retrospectively and the respondents were not authorised to receive fuel adjustment charges for said months. They prayed the court to set aside fuel adjustment charges and the notification issued in this regard besides restraining respondents from any adverse action against them.
IGP SUBMITS REPORT ON COURTS’ SECURITY: Punjab Inspector General of Police through a detailed report informed LHC Chief Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed on Tuesday that standard operating procedures (SOP) had been formulated to ensure security of courts across Punjab. The report was submitted by the IGP through a law officer in a suo motu case against four murders in Rawalpindi district courts. The report said a comprehensive security plan has prepared and SOP had been formulated after due consultation with district and sessions judges concerned and representatives of bar associations in the province.
However, in view of sensitivity of the report the CJ ordered to seal the report/security plan and place the same on record. The court was told that the report from LHC Human Rights and Vigilance Cell Director General Kazim Ali Malik was still awaited in the matter. Therefore, the court adjourned the matter until December 15.
remand extended: An accountability court on Tuesday extended the physical remand till December 13of former accountant M/s: Suzuki Motors Sialkot Khalid Mahmood.
JUDICIAL REMAND EXTENDED: An accountability court on Tuesday extended the judicial remand till December 13 of M/s: Kanal Motors directors Usman Yousaf, Qaisar Nazeer, Anwar Khan, Mohsin Abbasi and Ahsan Abbasi.
