Internet service shut down due to Pakistan vote
Pakistan has suspended mobile services as millions of people vote to elect a new government. Authorities justified the move by citing recent terrorist attacks across the country.
Several political leaders, including Pakistan People’s Party leader Bilawal Bhutto, have spoken out against the internet shutdown. In a post on X, he called on the government to immediately restore mobile phone services in the country.
Bhutto added that she would request the party to approach the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the courts on the issue.
The election comes two years after former Prime Minister Imran Khan was ousted in a no-confidence vote.
The ECP has frozen Mr Khan’s party’s symbol, Tehreek-e-Insaf, forcing the majority of its leaders to abstain from polls or run as independents.
Khan has been imprisoned on multiple charges ranging from corruption to violating Islamic law and is barred from contesting elections. He was sentenced in three separate cases over five days last week and faces at least 14 years in prison.
His lawyer says he faces more than 170 charges in various cases.
Dawn newspaper said turnout in major cities was low but could rise as the day progresses.No incidents of violence have been reported from the country.
The interim government passed strict rules on election reporting, including what can be said about candidates, campaigns, and opinion polls. It is not clear how soon results will be announced.
Some 128 million people are registered to vote, almost half of whom are under 35. In this election, he has over 5,000 candidates, only 313 of whom are women, vying for 336 seats.
Opinion polls predict that the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) will emerge as the single largest party, with Nawaz Sharif the frontrunner for the post of prime minister.
