Naveed Ahmad Khan
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Interior Ministry on Thursday suspended mobile phone and internet services across Pakistan to maintain law and order situation in election 2024’
“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 (formerly Twitter).
Following the suspension of internet and cellular services across Pakistan, the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) 8300 SMS service has been also affected.
Meanwhile: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja has said that the law enforcement agencies have decided to suspend Internet service.
“We will not direct for restoration of telephone and Internet service,” talking to media CEC said. ” Who will be responsible if we order opening of the cellular service and a terrorism incident takes place,” he said.
CEC Raja said,” Our system doesn’t depend on internet, there will be no difference. The election will be transparent”.
The election commission could give its recommendations, he said.
ECP member Nisar Durrani said that the mobile phone service shutdown would not have an impact on the election. The election monitoring centre has been functional, he added.
The Interior Ministry late night on Thursday announced that mobile phone services have been partially restored in parts of the country as the nation waits for results of all-important elections 2024.