Islamabad HC admits petition against social media rules

The petition was filed by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and was admitted on Friday by IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah, Dawn news reported.

PFUJ Secretary General Nasir Zaidi cited Ministry of Information Technology Secretary and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman as respondents.

According to the petition, the "Removal and Blocking of Unlawful Online Content (Procedure, Oversight and Safeguards) Rules 2020", violate general principles prescribed by constitutional courts for the exercise of rule-making powers and enactment of subordinate legislation by executive and regulatory authorities.

Under the new rules, social media companies will have to provide the designated investigation agency with any information or data in decrypted, readable and comprehensible format.

Subject to justifiable technical limitations, the information to be provided may include subscriber information, traffic data, content data and any other information or data.