On August 13, the Balochistan High Court (BHC) admitted a petition opposing the ongoing suspension of mobile internet services in the province and has instructed the Attorney General of Pakistan, Mansoor Awan, and Balochistan Advocate General Adnan Basharat to submit their official replies by August 15.
The petition challenges the shutdown imposed by the provincial government on August 6, which cited a “peculiar law and order situation” as the reason for cutting off cellular data and internet access. The suspension is expected to last until August 31. “The contentions so raised require consideration,” according to a notification issued by the Balochistan Home Department.
Khair Muhammad Shaheen, chairman of the Balochistan Consumer Civil Society and petitioner in the case, argued that the indefinite suspension violates several constitutional rights, including security of person (Article 9), freedom of movement (Article 15), freedom of trade and business (Article 18), right to information (Article 19-A), and equality of citizens (Article 25). He emphasized that mobile phones are an essential communication tool for students, business owners, educational institutions, and travelers.
Shaheen highlighted the adverse impact of the shutdown on education, as students are unable to attend online classes or prepare for examinations. The business community has reported daily financial losses running into millions of rupees, with e-commerce and financial transactions severely disrupted. Public transportation has also been affected, as inter-district and inter-provincial bus services have been suspended, causing additional hardships for the public.
The BHC bench, composed of Chief Justice Rozi Khan Barrech and Justice Sardar Ahmad Haleemi, reviewed the petition during the 13 August hearing. The court directed the federal and provincial authorities, including the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the provincial home department, to respond to the petition by the next hearing scheduled for August 15. The court warned that if the responses are not submitted on time, the secretaries of the interior and information technology ministries could be summoned to appear in court in person.
