Internet shutdown on election day is not on the table: CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja clarifies
"There shouldn't be a doubt about the conduct of polls on February 8," he said.
Internet shutdown on election day (February 8) is not on the table, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja clarified.
“No proposal for internet shutdown on election day is under consideration,” the CEC said following a security meeting of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday.
CEC Raja stressed that all the necessary arrangements will be made to ensure peaceful conduct of elections on February 8, but dismissed any plans to cut off communications, which has been used as a safety measure.
“There shouldn’t be a doubt about the conduct of polls on February 8,” he said.
The chief election commissioner, while responding to a question, said that ECP’s Election Management System (EMS) will work offline in case of any internet disruption.
“The February 8 polls will take place on time. Though security challenges exist the election commission is fully ready [to hold the elections], and with the help of Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) and the Pakistan Army, the elements involved in hindering the electoral process and disrupting the security situation will be dealt with strictly,” CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja said during the ECP’s security meeting.
The CEC also warned the LEAs to stay cautious of the efforts to take law in hand during the day of polls, especially during the counting of votes and results compilation and announcement.
