The Peshawar High Court convened on Thursday to address a petition concerning the spread of insulting and obscene content on TikTok, a popular social media platform, and to consider calls for stricter regulation or a potential ban on its operations in Pakistan. The court session, presided over by Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Sahibzada Asadullah, featured fervent arguments from legal representatives. The petitioner’s lawyer argued that TikTok should be banned due to its alleged promotion of blasphemous and culturally inappropriate material.
The PEMRA (Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority) counsel informed the court that TikTok is not under its regulation but is instead managed by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). The petitioner’s lawyer requested a stay order on the publication of blasphemous content, emphasizing the necessity of upholding societal values and protecting against content that could potentially insult religious sentiments or undermine cultural norms.
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Chief Justice Ibrahim expressed concerns about the presence of content on TikTok that contradicts Pakistani societal values and traditions, stating, “Insulting and obscene content should not be on TikTok.” He highlighted the judiciary’s duty to ensure that platforms like TikTok do not become channels for spreading offensive material.
During the proceedings, Justice Sahibzada Asadullah questioned the petitioner on whether he was troubled by all content on TikTok. The counsel responded that blasphemous content should be banned and noted that Pakistan is one of the top two countries in terms of TikTok usage. The court issued a notice to the PTA to provide a detailed response on the matter and scheduled further deliberations for June 26.
