The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has sought responses from government ministries and regulators on a plea seeking children social media regulation for users under 16. The petition calls for stronger online protections for minors.
IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfaraz Dogar issued notices to the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of Interior, and Ministry of Law and Justice.
The court also sought responses from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra). All concerned authorities have been given 15 days to submit their replies.
The petition was filed by Waqas Nasir through lawyers Muhammad Jalal Haider and Yahya Farid Khawaja. It seeks legislation and an effective age-verification system for children using social media platforms.
During the hearing, Advocate Haider said children face risks including cyberbullying, online harassment and exposure to harmful content. He argued that the state has a legal and constitutional responsibility to protect children’s interests.
The lawyer also told the court that Pemra can act on complaints but no specific law currently regulates children’s access to social media. The petitioner has urged the government to establish rules covering digital rights, privacy and the mental and physical safety of minors.
The plea cited international child protection standards and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It also called for specific responsibilities for social media platforms. The children social media regulation issue has gained attention in Pakistan, including a recent Punjab Assembly resolution seeking restrictions on accounts used by children under 16 without parental consent.
