Raising his points in the court during arguments, the applicant’s lawyer said that the High Court of Peshawar had previously blocked TikTok because of some “immoral and anti-Islamic” videos posted on the platform. Recommended: Public Fights Back New Taxation on Mobile Phone Services
Tiktok blocked in Pakistan for the third time till 8th July
The lawyer claimed that his client had first filed a complaint in Pakistan Telecommunications Authority but PTA didn’t take any action then he approached the Sindh High Court and submitted his petition against Tiktok. The SHC highlighted that in view of submissions by the representative of defendant No 2, that is the PTA, the PHC removed a restriction on TikTok. However, despite numerous court orders TikTok didn’t pay attention and take any serious action. On 8 July, the SHC has summoned the parties involved in the case. “TikTok has recently organized a media campaign which celebrates the ‘LGBT Pride Month’ which is totally against the culture of Pakistan and Islamic laws. Tiktok is not respecting the law and the fundamental injunctions of Islam as well as the culture of Pakistan.” “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 [TikTok] is hereby directed to suspend the operations of and/or access to the TikTok application in Pakistan,” Court ordered. Besides that, several petitioners have also sought a ban on TikTok by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Ali Zeb, a resident of Pakpattan, filed a case against Tiktok at the Supreme Court and appeal for a ban. He said that Tiktok is promoting criminal behavior, using drugs and weapons in videos, and uploading those videos. Using TikTok in educational institutions is also leading to a bad environment for students. The petitioner stated that people are also recording activities, such as a suicide attempt and death act to gain more followers and views on TikTok, whereas its content is against the Islamic laws of Pakistan. The applicant appealed for effective policymaking, including the partial shutdown of TikTok and ordering the government to establish a content censorship mechanism. Response from Tiktok: In response to the current ban imposed by the SHC, Tiktok spokesperson said, Also Read: Is Pakistan the first country to implement a tax on mobile calls that cross the five-minute duration?
