Legal advice sought on ‘cognizable’ online content

Lahore High Court Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan has again sought legal assistance upon whether or not an FIR can be registered against an internet firm and how a man may be tried in Pakistan for uploading objectionable content from abroad.

The court had earlier fixed the hearing on Tuesday while seeking legal assistance from lawyers on the matter.

However, the lawyers could not satisfy the court and it once again adjourned the proceedings till next week while seeking legal assistance on the points.

CJ Khan was hearing a petition, filed through Advocate Bilal Riaz Sheikh, seeking directions to the authorities concerned to restrain the Ahmadi community from uploading controversial content from Pakistan.

Petitioner Luqman Habib made respondent the federation of Pakistan through the ministries of interior, information technology, religious affairs and interfaith harmony.

He contended that he had received a video clip from a friend regarding a 'caliph'.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 2^nd, 2021.