Peshawar High Court orders to ban TikTok over immoral content

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday has ordered to ban the popular video sharing application ‘TikTok’ in Pakistan.

According to the details, a hearing was conducted on the petition seeking a ban on TikTok.

Director-General Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Deputy Attorney General, petitioner’s counsel Nazish Muzaffar and Sara Ali appeared in the court.

During the proceedings, Chief Justice Peshawar High Court Justice Qaiser Rasheed Khan remarked that the videos uploaded on TikTok are against our ‘cultural’ and ‘moral values’.

DG PTA told the court that they have requested TikTok authorities to remove inappropriate and obscene content, but the management has taken no action over it.

PTA DG also informed that 4.5 million videos are uploaded daily on the application in Pakistan alone.

CJ Peshawar High Court remarked that “Till the time TikTok authorities do not cooperate with you to stop immoral content, we are imposing a ban on this application.”

“The application is affecting the youth most. Reports we get about TikTok are regrettable,” the top judge of Peshawar High Court said.

Back on October 19, PTA restored TikTok after placing a ban for promoting inappropriate content.

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority in its official Twitter handle 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.

Prior to that in an official statement, a spokesperson from TikTok assured to demonstrate the commitment to comply with local laws and further enhance content moderation capacity.