Should kids under 16 need permission to use Instagram or TikTok in Pakistan? A court in Islamabad is now asking the government to answer that exact question. This week, the Islamabad High Court social media case moved forward, with the court asking key government bodies to explain what rules — if any — protect children online. Here is what happened, in simple terms.
What Happened in Court
On Monday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) took up a petition about children and social media. The petition was filed by a man named Waqas Nasir, through his lawyers Muhammad Jalal Haider and Yahya Farid Khawaja. It asks the court to order the government to make clear laws that protect children who use social media.
Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfaraz Dogar heard the case. He sent official notices to six government bodies:
- Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication
- Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
- Ministry of Interior
- Ministry of Law and Justice
- Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA)
- Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra)
Each of these bodies must send a written answer to the court within 15 days.
Why 16 Is the Key Age in This Case
The petition specifically asks for rules covering children under the age of 16. It wants the government to create a proper system to check a user’s age before they can open a social media account. Right now, there is no law in Pakistan that sets an age limit for social media use, and no official way to check a user’s real age when they sign up.
What the Lawyer Told the Court
Advocate Haider told the judge that Pakistan needs a real age-check system for children’s social media accounts. He said children face serious risks online, including cyberbullying, harassment, and harmful content. He argued that protecting children is not just a good idea — it is a “constitutional and legal responsibility of the state.”
The judge asked a simple but important question: does Pemra already have a law for this? The lawyer said no. Pemra can act on a complaint after something goes wrong, but there is no specific law made just for children’s social media safety. The judge then asked if any law had ever been passed on this topic. The answer, again, was no.
What the Petition Is Actually Asking For
The petition wants the government to build a full system to protect children online. This includes:
- Clear rules for children’s privacy and safety on social media
- Legal duties for social media companies to protect young users
- Protection from cyberbullying, harassment, and harmful content
- A policy that also covers children’s mental and physical wellbeing, not just their online safety
The petition points out that many other countries already have age rules for social media. It argues Pakistan should follow this global trend. It also refers to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, saying that protecting children online is a legal duty for the state, not just a policy choice.
This Isn’t the First Time the Issue Has Come Up
Last month, the Punjab Assembly discussed a similar idea. MPA Sarah Ahmad proposed a resolution asking for a nationwide ban on social media accounts for children under 16, unless a parent gives permission. The resolution asked the federal government to create strong laws and stronger online safety rules for children across the country. Together, these two events show that lawmakers and courts in Pakistan are now taking children’s online safety more seriously.
What Happens Next
The six government bodies now have 15 days to send their written replies to the court. Once the replies come in, the Islamabad High Court will decide the next steps in the case. For now, there is still no official law setting a social media age limit in Pakistan — but this case could be the first real step toward creating one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this IHC case about?
It is about whether Pakistan should have a legal age limit and safety rules for children using social media, such as an age-check system for under-16 users.
Which government bodies were asked to respond?
Six were named: the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Law and Justice, PTA, and Pemra.
Does Pakistan currently have an age limit for social media?
No. As confirmed in court, there is currently no specific law in Pakistan that sets an age limit or age-verification system for children on social media.
Is this connected to any other recent news?
Yes. Last month, a Punjab Assembly resolution also called for a nationwide ban on social media accounts for children under 16 without parental consent.
This case is still ongoing, and no final decision or new law has been made yet. The next update is expected once the government bodies submit their replies within the 15-day deadline set by the court.
