ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday sought assistance regarding its jurisdiction in case seeking provision of internet facility in erstwhile tribal areas.
Chief Justice Athar Minallah remarked that this court had ordered Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to provide internet facility in erstwhile tribal areas, however, the Supreme Court (SC) had set aside this order.
The chief justice asked the counsel of the petitioner to satisfy the bench keeping in view the apex court’s judgment on this matter.
The IHC chief justice noted that all districts of former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) region had been attached with Khyber Pakhtunkwa (KP). The interior ministry had adopted the stance that provision of internet service was not a matter associated with the federation, rather it was being dealt by the provincial government, he added.
Deputy Attorney General Tayyab Shah said that restriction in district Bajur had been lifted.
The court said that after mentioning the rule of provincial government, there was a need to clear the jurisdiction of IHC as it could not pass any order to KP government. Later, the court adjourned hearing of the case.
