Elections 2024: Mobile phone services suspended across the country in a bid to “maintain law and order”

Mobile phone services are reported to have been suspended across the country in a bid to “maintain law and order” during election polling on Feb 8, Thursday.

Citizens could not access mobile internet services as polls opened at 8:00 am, while there were also reports of poor access in the southern city of Karachi.

Following the mobile service suspension, the ECP’s 8300 SMS service will get updated voter records also became unavailable.

An Interior Ministry spokesperson confirmed the temporary suspension of the mobile service across the country.

“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 decision has been made,” Interior Ministry Spokesperson.

The suspension of mobile services has made it difficult for the polling staff in Karachi to maintain communications in Karachi.

Meanwhile in Lahore, the ECP‘s monitoring system and complaint cell were also affected due to the shutdown.