New Delhi: The suspension of internet and mobile services due to the “security situation” ahead of elections in Pakistan has drawn significant criticism from most political parties and civil society regarding the integrity of the electoral process.
More than 128 million voters were eligible to vote in the general election, and polling places opened at 8 a.m.
The election was already fraught with controversy due to a series of convictions against former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf leader Imran Khan, who was certain to be disqualified from the election. Nawaz Sharif, a three-time former prime minister of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nation (PML-N), is widely believed to be the front-runner in the election. He is currently considered the most likely candidate by military authorities.
As polling stations opened, Pakistan’s interior ministry forced a nationwide suspension of mobile phone and internet services, citing “security concerns.” In response to questions from reporters at a polling station, caretaker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar justified the move against the backdrop of a “wave of terrorism” in the country.
At the end of voting day, Kakkar claimed that “turnout was high.” “Voices expressed through voting will contribute to strengthening our democracy. For that, the people of Pakistan deserve gratitude in every way,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The outage of mobile and internet services is critical to Pakistan’s election process as it can affect voter turnout. In Pakistan, voters use a text message service provided by the Election Commission to confirm their designated polling station.
This comes despite the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan criticizing the suspension of mobile services and demanding its immediate cancellation and the Sindh High Court’s direction to maintain uninterrupted internet services on polling days. pointed out that it happened.
“Although the PTA maintains that it has received no instructions from the government to block internet services, there is a worrying lack of transparency about where, when and for how long the disruptions will continue, resulting in the loss of voter information. may affect the communication of rights and consequences.” Those who issued this order must be identified and held accountable.”
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has petitioned the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take note that interruptions in internet services will affect voter turnout.
Senator Taj Haider, who is in charge of the party’s central election office, said in a letter to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court that the government’s move to suspend mobile phone services due to security concerns was in 2018. He said it was “illegal” and in violation of a court order.
“The closure has also had a negative impact on security incident reporting and response. One of our employees was shot dead in Mirpurkhas today and we only learned about the murder an hour later,” the letter said. was reported to have been listed. dawn news.
At least nine people, including six security personnel, were killed in violent incidents reported across Pakistan on Thursday, according to media reports.
The letter also claimed that “all political parties except the PML-N are against” internet disruption. “Despite requests to ECP to restore these services, these services have not been restored.”
Earlier in the day, PPP leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari called for “immediate restoration of mobile phone services across the country” through his X account.
PTI, which continues to maintain a strong online presence among political parties, claimed that the suspension of mobile and internet services was an “organized conspiracy to deprive the people of their constitutional right to vote.” .
“The purpose of shutting down cell phone service is to prevent evidence of fraud at the polling places from coming to light. The public will not accept such a systematic attempt at manipulation on election day.” A PTI spokesperson was quoted as saying. express tribune.
He accused the Election Commission of Pakistan of failing to maintain transparency and credibility in the general election.
The PML-N, which is seen as the favorite to win the election, remained conspicuously silent.
Nighat Dad, a Pakistani lawyer who runs the NGO Digital Rights Foundation, said in an article on the eve of election day that a government shutdown would not only stop journalists from reporting effectively, but would also mean that “major interests, including the Election Commission, It will hinder the activities of those involved.” Prevent Pakistan, domestic and international election observers, political candidates, and members of civil society from closely monitoring election procedures. ”
Two days earlier, the international NGO Amnesty International also wrote: open letter It called on the Pakistani government to ensure “unrestricted access to the internet, social media platforms and all other communication channels during the general election period on February 8, 2024.”
In a strongly worded statement Thursday night, Amnesty International called the suspension of mobile services “a blatant attack on the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.” “It would be reckless to impede access to information as people head to the polls in the wake of a devastating bomb explosion and a fierce crackdown on opposition in the run-up to the country’s elections,” the ministry said.
Pakistan’s Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja distanced himself from responsibility for the disruption of mobile and internet services and refused to issue any instructions. He also claimed that the majority of voters access their voting information through central control numbers, and that election bodies receive an average of 1.5 million to 2 million messages every day.
