LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has issued notices to the federal government on a plea seeking a ban on TikTok and other social media applications.
During a hearing on Friday, Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti directed the official respondents to file their response to the petition by the next hearing. Advocate Waqas Anwar Gujjar moved the petition, stating that the applications like TikTok, Bigo Live, Likee and others are becoming a source of waste of time for youngsters.
Anwar Gujjar named Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and other respondents in the case.
The petitioner said TikTok has claimed the lives of many youngsters, who while trying to shoot short videos for the app, had lost their lives.
Furthermore, he said that these apps have become a source of promoting vulgar content and no action had been taken despite bringing the matter to the notice of the authorities concerned including the PTA.
He requested that the apps should immediately be banned and the authorities be directed to introduce laws for monitoring of such applications.
Earlier, the popular Chinese video app ‘TikTok’ had been banned in Pakistan over ‘obscene’ and ‘indecent’ content. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority on Friday banned TikTok in view of complaints.
As per the authority, the app was given significant time to respond and comply with instructions to effectively moderate “unlawful online content”.
“However, the application failed to fully comply with the instructions, therefore, directions were issued for blocking of TikTok application in the country,” the statement said.
On October 19, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had lifted the ban on a popular Chinese video app ‘TikTok’.
The news was announced by the PTA. The authority took to Twitter and wrote; TikTok is being unlocked after assurance from management that they will block all accounts repeatedly involved in spreading obscenity and immorality. TikTok will moderate the account in accordance with local laws.”
TikTok is being unlocked after assurance from management that they will block all accounts repeatedly involved in spreading obscenity and immorality.
TikTok will moderate the account in accordance with local laws.— PTA (@PTAofficialpk) October 19, 2020
