Centre’s word on cyber theft sought
The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday demanded a response from the federal government about a petition against the selling of confidential data of 11.5 million Pakistanis on the dark web and ordered the Deputy Attorney General (DAG) to implement the court’s April 20, 2021 decision.
The petition stated that the legislation f national cyber police was being constantly postponed by the federal government. There was no national cyber policy at this time.
The DAG contended before a two-member bench led by Acting Chief Justice Sindh High Court Justice Irfan Saadat Khan that instead of waiting for the federal government to respond, notices were sent to the provincial government.
Islamabad will respond only if a court notice is issued. Petitioner Tariq Mansoor’s advocate stated that many institutions have submitted their responses, however, IT and Telecommunication secretary has yet to send and a reply on how data of Pakistani citizens was sold on the dark web.
The court instructed the DAG to carry out the April 20, 2021, ruling while seeking a federal response until November 1.
Encroachment o drain
A petition regarding encroachment on the drain in Haji Lemo Goth Gulshan-e-Iqbal has been filed with the Sindh High Court (SHC), and the court sent notices to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Commissioner Karachi, and other authorities.
The petitioner contended in front of a two-member bench led by Justice Aqeel Ahmad Abbasi, that Gulshan-e-Iqbal Blocks 3 and 4 are stuffed with possessions.
Despite the orders of the Supreme Court, the encroachment of the storm drain of Haji Lemo Goth was not stopped.
The bench asked that the Supreme Court issued an order prohibiting encroachment on drains; has it been carried out, the court asked?
The petitioner said massive towers have been built on plots of 80 yards, completely destroying the sewerage system in our neighbourhoods. Commercial activity is taking place in neighbourhoods, and nobody is going to speak up.
Do you want to exterminate the whole population, Justice Aqeel Ahmad Abbasi remarked? The parties are served with notices and asked to respond.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2023.