Politicians seek ‘immediate restoration’ of mobile phone services

Politicians seek ‘immediate restoration’ of mobile phone services nationwide on the polls day.

On Thursday, the Ministry of Interior suspended cellular services “temporarily” across Pakistan as part of security measures.

Following the development, Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has sought immediate restoration of the internet service across the country.

Bilawal said that his party will approach the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and relevant courts to restore mobile phone services on election day. 

On the other hand, Independent candidate Jibran Nasir said the government has “robbed voters and political parties — specifically PTI and candidates — of their rights by shutting down mobile services across the country.”

“The power brokers are not only against our freedom of expression but also our right to information. Anything which empowers the people is despised by the ruling class. But we all have to rise above, take this challenge and step out to vote for the sake of democracy and our collective future,” he posted on X

Reacting to the development, independent candidate Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said that shutting down mobile networks on polling day is the beginning of election day rigging. 

“Pre-poll environment was already one of the worst in Pakistan’s history. Cutting candidates off from their agents and staff on election day is unacceptable. How is one supposed to keep a check and highlight any irregularity? By the time news comes out election would have been stolen,” he posted on X. 

On the other hand, Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan (JIP) Karachi Emir Hafiz NaeemUr Rehman in a statement said that suspending cellular services was the worst situation ever. 

“We demand the interior minister to restore the mobile services immediately. By suspending the services, injustice has been done to 250 million Pakistanis.”

PPP senior leader Saeed Ghani also said that questions will be raised over the suspension of cellular services, demanding to restore the services on an immediate basis. 

“The government is responsible for the law and order situation in the country and it is not appropriate to make the election process controversial,” he added.