A HIGH court in Pakistan on Monday (28) ordered the temporary suspension of popular Chinese video-sharing app TikTok for “spreading immorality”.
Sindh High Court ordered the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to suspend the app until the next hearing scheduled for July 8.
The order was issued by the court on a petition by a citizen who alleged that TikTok was spreading "immorality and obscenity in the country".
It is the second time the app has been banned in the country this year. In March, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) had taken a similar action on a petition filed by several citizens.
However, the PHC, after a few weeks, lifted the ban by asking the telecom authority to take measures so that no "immoral content" was uploaded.
In October last year, the telecom authority for the first time banned TikTok after receiving complaints about “indecent and immoral” content, but lifted the ban after 10 days.
The Chinese app had assured the PTA it would operate as per the local laws to ensure that no “indecent content” was uploaded.
The app, owned by China's ByteDance, has been downloaded almost 39 million times in Pakistan.
Freddie Mercury in the Made in Heaven music videoSimon Fowler © Mercury Songs Ltd 
Mercury Wing Catsuit and bolero ensemble (1975)Amit Roy
Designer Wendy de Smet with the spine suit or the Black Queen suit from 1975 Amit Roy
Made in Heaven music video costume (1985) David Parry/V&A 
Japanese jacket (early 1970s)Amit Roy
Japanese jacket (early 1970s) and kimono (1950-70) David Parry/ V&A 
Ensemble worn for Imperial College gig in 1973Amit Roy
Flash ensemble and half mic (Flash Gordon 1980)Amit Roy
Freddie Mercury performs wearing a 'Flash' t-shirt at Sports Arena in San Diego, California, United States, on 5th July 1980David TanShinko Music/Getty Images
Cloal and crown ensembleAmit Roy
Cloak and crown ensemble (1986)Amit Roy
Cloak and crown ensemble (1986)Amit Roy
Freddie Mercury, Magic Tour (1986) Denis O’Regan
