The Islamabad High Court is reviewing a petition that calls for stricter regulations on social media access for children under the age of 16 in Pakistan. The court on Tuesday issued notices to several government ministries and regulatory bodies, including the ministries of information technology, information, interior, and law, as well as the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), requesting their responses within 15 days.
The petition, filed by Waqas Nasir and represented by advocates Muhammad Jalal Haider and Yahya Farid Khawaja, seeks the implementation of an effective age-verification system for social media accounts used by minors. The petitioners argue that existing measures are insufficient and highlight a range of risks children face online, including cyberbullying, harassment, and exposure to harmful or inappropriate content.
During proceedings, Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfaraz Dogar questioned whether Pemra currently has specific legislation regulating children’s use of social media. Representatives from Pemra acknowledged that no such laws exist, although the authority can act on complaints under broader regulations. The petitioner’s counsel stressed that protecting children online is not merely a policy matter but a constitutional and legal obligation for the state, calling for dedicated legislation that imposes clear responsibilities on social media platforms to safeguard minors.
The petition also advocates for the development of a comprehensive policy framework that addresses children’s digital rights, privacy, and their mental and physical wellbeing. It calls for the establishment of a specialized regulatory mechanism to oversee and ensure the safe and responsible use of social media by minors.
This legal challenge follows a similar political initiative in Pakistan’s Punjab Assembly last month, where a resolution was introduced by Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) Sarah Ahmad. The resolution urged a nationwide ban on social media accounts for children under 16 without parental consent and recommended that the provincial government push the federal government to enact comprehensive legislation regulating children’s social media access and online protections.
Pakistan currently lacks any specific statutory safeguards for minors using digital platforms, a gap that the petition highlights amid growing global efforts to strengthen protections for young internet users. The Islamabad High Court’s inquiry into these issues marks a significant step toward potentially establishing clearer rules and regulatory oversight concerning children’s social media engagement in the country.