PTA blames government, as senators dispute legality of internet shutdowns.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) revealed in a heated Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology session that internet shutdowns across the country are carried out on government orders, raising serious issues about the legality and justification for such interruptions.

According to media sources, PTA Chairman Retired Major General Hafeezur Rehman disclosed during a session chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan that the authority receives an average of 500 daily complaints regarding objectionable information on social media, with 80% of flagged material being deleted upon request. However, the committee’s attention switched to Pakistan’s frequent internet outages and slow speeds, with the country ranking 97th in the world for internet performance.

Senator Kamran Murtaza of the JUI-F questioned the legal basis for the shutdowns, asking, “Which legislation enables this? “How can services be disrupted without a clear legal foundation?”

In response, the PTA chairman stated that such judgments were based on government directives. “If this is illegal, why has the government been directing us to do so for nine years?” he said, adding that the interior ministry needed to clarify the legality of its directions.

The committee examined the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), with members noting that it does not specifically permit regional internet blocks. IT ministry personnel acknowledged the uncertainty, but maintained that current regulations allow the interior ministry to give orders, even if they are vague.

Senator Murtaza condemned the effects of shutdowns, claiming they impede education, companies, and access to resources. “This is akin to pushing people into ignorance for political purposes,” he said.

PTI Senator Mohammad Humayun Mohmand expressed alarm, saying, “The rules mention blocking content, not entire networks.”

The PTA chairman defended the agency’s conduct, claiming that many shutdowns were carried out on orders from the Supreme Court or high courts. “These are official directives.” “Everyone here has served in government at some point and understands how these decisions are made,” he added.

Rehman stressed that the main problem of sluggish internet speeds was inadequate fiberisation. He noted that fixing internet infrastructure was the government’s obligation, since poor speeds would continue.

The committee requested comprehensive legal views from the Ministries of Law and Interior to clarify the overlap between PECA legislation and the directives authorising internet shutdowns. Members emphasized the need of creating a clear legal framework to avoid unnecessary disruptions in the future.