Verdict compliance ordered

SHC asks attorney general to prepare and submit arguments at the next hearing

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed the attorney general to prepare his arguments as it took up a petition against the sale of private information of approximately 11.5 million Pakistanis on the dark web. The petition has been filed by Tariq Mansoor advocate, who has raised concerns about the sale of confidential data of 11.5 million Pakistanis on the dark web.

Justice Irfan Saadat Khan, while heading two-judge bench, enquired whether the National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA) and other relevant authorities had responded to the petition. The petitioner's counsel confirmed that all relevant institutions had submitted their responses.

The bench then asked the deputy attorney general to proceed with the case. However, the DAG responded that he did not have the file yet and that the attorney general would present arguments at the next hearing.

The bench emphasised that the verdict from April 20, 2021, should be implemented, and the federal government has been given until October 11 to respond. The court further directed the DAG to ensure compliance with the ruling dated April 20, 2021.

The petitioner argued that Pakistan lacks a national cyber policy, despite four significant cyber incidents having occurred in the country. Without adequate legal protection, sensitive data is being sold on the dark web, including mobile users' identity card numbers, addresses, phone numbers, and other personal information.

Meanwhile, another two-member SHC bench, headed by Justice Irfan Saadat Khan, has sought an explanation from authorities on a petition against entry fees in major parks across the city. A KMC counsel and petitioner Tariq Mansoor Advocate were present in the courtroom.

Advocate Tariq Mansoor, who presented a receipt of the admission fee before the bench, argued that the KMC had introduced parking fees while abolishing public entry fees, thereby preventing free access to the park.

Justice Khan expressed annoyance at the KMC lawyer, noting that renaming the entry fee as a parking fee was not acceptable. The KMC counsel requested time to respond, asserting that the petitioner's claims were not entirely accurate.  However, the bench warned that an explanation must be provided by October 4, or the city mayor would be summoned. The hearing was adjourned till October 4.

At the last hearing, KMC officials had stated that tenders related to public admission fees had been canceled, rendering the application inadmissible. However, the court had issued an injunction against tenders for public admission fees.

The petitioner, Tariq Mansoor Advocate, argued that the Supreme Court has banned public entry fees in parks, but despite the ban, fees were being charged at various parks in the city.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th, 2023.