Peshawar High Court (PHC) banned TikTok
FOE Link or motive by PPF
ConfirmedCase Update Status
On 1st April, 2021 The Peshawar High Court (PHC) took back its ban on TikTok
Summary of Case
On 11 March, 2021 widely used video-sharing social networking service TikTok faced ban after the Peshawar High Court (PHC) directed Pakistani authorities to immediately ban the app over immoral content. The directives were issued by PHC Chief Justice Qaiser Rashid Khan, who was hearing a plea seeking a ban on TikTok.
PHC Chief Justice Qaiser Rashid Khan remarked that the videos uploaded on the Chinese owned app were "not acceptable for Pakistani society”. He added that the audience mostly affected by TikTok were the youth. The judge also expressed his displeasure over the “reports” he was receiving of TikTok.
“TikTok videos are spreading obscenity, it [the app] should be shut down immediately,” ordered Chief Justice Qaiser Rashid Khan
The PCH CJ also questioned the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) director-general on whether shutting down TikTok would have an impact on the people running the app, to which the DG said "yes, it would". The DG added that the government had approached the TikTok officials over the immoral content, but they were yet to receive a “positive” response from them.
As soon as the judge heard this, he observed that TikTok should be shut down till the company responds to the government on the “immoral” content being posted on the website. “TikTok will be shut down till officials comply with your request and cooperate with you to stop immoral content on the app,” ordered the PHC CJ.
On 1st April, 2021 The Peshawar High Court (PHC) took back its ban on TikTok and asked the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to let the Chinese app operate in Pakistan but make sure that "immoral content" is not uploaded.
Category of Incident
Censorship
ICCS Status
ICCS Divisions: 0803-Acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression
ICCS Group: 08031-Acts against freedom of expression
ICCS Class: N/A
ICCS Crime: Acts against freedom of expression
Reported By
The News
Date of incident
11
Month
March
Year
2021
Name of affected person
No person Affected
Other affected persons
No other person affected
Name of affected organization
Social media Platforms
Other affected organizations
No other organization affected
Action by
Peshawar High Court (PHC)
City
Peshawar
Province
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Designation
N/A
Professional category
N/A
Age of victim
Not Applicable as Peshawar High Court banned TikTok app.
Marital Status
N/ACompensation Details
Amount of compensation announced by government: Not Applicable as Peshawar High Court banned TikTok app.
Date of compensation announcement by government: Not Applicable as Peshawar High Court banned TikTok app.
Date of compensation paid by government: Not Applicable as Peshawar High Court banned TikTok app.
Amount of compensation announced by others: Not Applicable as Peshawar High Court banned TikTok app.
Date of compensation announced by others: Not Applicable as Peshawar High Court banned TikTok app.
Date compensation paid by others: Not Applicable as Peshawar High Court banned TikTok app.
FIR Details
Was FIR registered ?: No
Court Details
Was case investigated ?: Yes
Court where case was presented: Peshawar high Court
Name of prosecuting lawyer: N/A
Date of first court hearing: 11/03/2021
Date of last court hearing: 01/04/2021
Status of court case: Not Applicable
Journalist Union Status
PFUJ
N/A
APNS
CPNE
PBA
Media Source Status
Media reports:
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/802599-tiktok-banned-in-pakistan-by-peshawar-high-court-for-immoral-contentCondemn Status
Colleague of victim
N/A
Employer organization
N/A
Press Club Status
Press club 1: Karachi union of journalists condemned.
Press club 2:
Press club 3: