PPP, JI demand immediate restoration of internet, mobile phone services

PPP Chairman and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Jamaat-e-Islami have demanded the immediate restoration of internet and mobile phone services in Pakistan as the people vote in general elections, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Bilawal Bhutto made the demand in a post uploaded on X platform on Thursday, hours after interior ministry suspended the internet and mobile phone services in the country owing to security threats.

In his post, the PPP chairman said the mobile phone services must be restored immediately across the country. “I have asked my party to approach both ECP and the courts for this purpose,” he added.

Mobile phone services must be restored immediately across the country have asked my party to approach both ECP and the courts for this purpose.

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) February 8, 2024

Another PPP senior leader Saeed Ghani has condemned the suspension of mobile phone services, saying it’s not wise to shut the services on election day. The government’s decision will certainly raise questions about the election process, he added.

Ghani demanded of the ECP to immediately restore internet and phone services. “Maintaining law and order is the responsibility of the government and it would not be appropriate to make controversial the gigantic election exercise,” he added.

PPP writes to CEC for restoration of internet services

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has demanded the immediate restoration of internet and mobile phone services in the country.

In a letter to the chief election commissioner (CEC) on Thursday, the party said it was concerned since the suspension of the services on the election day was creating hindrances in polling. “Voters’ turnout is expected to remain low due to the suspension of the mobile phone service since people will no longer be able to locate their polling stations by calling each other,” it said.

Despite the fact that the government had announced yesterday that it had no plan to stop the internet services, complaints started surfacing soon after the polling began in the morning.

JI demand

Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Amir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has dubbed the suspension of internet and mobile phone services as “worst situation”.

He demanded restoration of the services as soon as possible.