Interim Interior Minister Dr. Gohar Ejaz announced on Tuesday that the caretaker government will entertain requests for internet shutdowns on February 8, the day of the election, but only if formally requested by a district or province citing security concerns.
Contradictory Reports
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad alongside interim Information Minister Murtaza Solangi, Ejaz stressed that no definitive decision has been made regarding internet suspensions in any location thus far.
Contradicting a statement made the previous day, Solangi dismissed the notion of an internet shutdown on February 8, asserting that local authorities have the authority to implement such measures based on prevailing law and order conditions. However, he noted that as of now, no such situation has arisen.
On Sunday, Jan Achakzai, the caretaker Information Minister of Balochistan, revealed plans for temporary internet restrictions at sensitive polling stations in the province during the upcoming election.
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During today’s discussion on the security situation, Ejaz reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring peaceful elections without any loss of life. He also remarked that he did not observe any tensions between candidates in Balochistan. He stated, “The election atmosphere in Sindh is filled with excitement, and it appears that no political party harbors enmity towards another.”
Finally, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the government body overseeing internet and telecommunication control in Pakistan, recently affirmed that there will be no internet shutdown on election day. This confirmation comes from a PTA official speaking with Business Recorder.