The High Court of Azad Jammu and Kashmir has issued notices to four authorities over the continuing suspension of internet services in the region, after a constitutional petition challenged the shutdown as unlawful.
Justice Sardar Ijaz of the AJK High Court heard the petition on Saturday and admitted it for preliminary hearing.
Notices were issued to the Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the Kashmir Council, the Special Communications Organization (SCO), and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). All respondents have been directed to submit detailed replies by July 15.
The petition was filed on behalf of the petitioner by Advocate Syed Basit Gilani, who argued that the month-long internet shutdown in Azad Jammu and Kashmir is unlawful and violates the fundamental rights of citizens.
He told the court that the prolonged suspension has caused severe difficulties for the public, students, businesses, and people across various sectors of society.
The crisis stems from an ongoing suspension of internet services across Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) since June 8, which has severely disrupted the daily lives of students, freelancers, and ordinary citizens.
Residents reported being forced to travel entirely outside AJK just to access basic online services, with many crossing into neighbouring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to perform urgent digital tasks they could not complete at home.
