HRCP demands immediate restoration of internet, cellular services across country-

Pakistan temporarily suspended mobile phone services on Thursday to strengthen security as voting began in the country’s national election, the interior ministry said.

The government’s decision comes amidst a rise in attacks in the run-up to the election and a day after jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan urged his supporters to wait outside polling booths after voting until results are announced.

“As a result of the recent incidents of terrorism in the country precious lives have been lost, security measures are essential to maintain the law and order situation and deal with possible threats, hence the temporary suspension of mobile services across the country,” the interior ministry said in a message on X.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has demanded the immediate restoration of internet and cellular services across the country.

In a post on social media platform X, it said: “The ongoing disruption to services has occurred despite the Sindh High Court’s direction to the caretaker government to ensure uninterrupted internet services on polling day.”

“With the PTA claiming it has received no instructions from the government to block internet services, there is a worrying lack of transparency about where, when and how long the disruption will continue, thereby affecting voters’ right to information and potentially the transmission of results,” the HRCP said.

It added that those behind the outages should be identified and held responsible.

Jamaat-i-Islami leader Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, cast his vote in North Nazimabad and expressed serious concerns about communication disruptions due to the shutdown of mobile services.

In a video posted by the party on X, Rehman condemned the suspension of mobile services, labelling it a shameful stunt. He accused the government of paralysing the communication system on the day of the election.

Rehman noted instances of material being transported to polling stations via rickshaws as late as 9:30am and 10:30am, with several locations experiencing delayed or improper polling commencement.

Talking about polling station of NA-246 Orangi Town from where Rehman is contesting elections, he said that the preprations were incomplete and raised concerns about last-minute changes in presiding officers.

Expressing worry over pre-poll rigging and polling inconsistencies, Rehman warned that such issues could cast doubt on the legitimacy of the entire process.

The Election Correspondence Cell of the PTI in Sindh has urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to restore internet services across the country, saying that it was a “brazen assault on democracy”.

In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja, election cell incharge Barrister Ali Tahir said the internet shutdown raised “serious doubts about the ECP’s commitment to fulfilling its constitutional duties”.

“The pretexts provided by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for these internet blackouts are both flimsy and inadequate,” he asserted.

The statement further said, “The suspension of internet services on polling day represents a clear and brazen assault on democracy and the rule of law.”

“Please treat this as a note of protest and immediately order the restoration of [the] internet,” it added.

PPP Sindh president Senator Nisar Khuhro has cast his vote at Khosa Mohalla Rahmatpur School, Larkana.

Speaking to the media, Nisar said that the caretaker federal government should restore mobile phone services to prevent people from facing any problems.

“Keeping law and order under control is the responsibility of the caretaker government, which should not be punished by shutting down the phone service,” he said. “Shutting down mobile phones is a conspiracy to decrease the turnout.”

He urged the Election Commission of Pakistan to “immediately” issue orders to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the caretaker government to restore mobile phone services. “If mobile phone services are not restored, there will be question mark on the results,” he added.

Caretaker Sindh Information Minister Ahmed Shah has said the decision to block internet and cellular services has been taken by the federal government keeping in view the recent terror incidents in Balochistan.

At least 28 people were killed in back-to-back blasts in Qila Saifullah and Pishin yesterday. Separately, JUI-F leader Hafiz Hamdullah survived a gun attack on his vehicle en route to Chaman.

Speaking to the media after casting his vote in Karachi, Shah said mobile and internet services would be restored if the security situation remained stable.

“It is very important to protect human lives,” he stated, adding that Pakistan’s enemies had kept an eye on the polling day and the caretakers were doing their best to ensure a smooth polling process.

In response to a question, Shah said shutting down mobile services was the prerogative of the federal government. “Definitely, they took this decision in light of security threats,” the minister added.