As Imran Khan‘s supporters staged a protest in the capital, Pakistan Sunday suspended cellular and internet access “in areas with safety concerns.”
The Interior Ministry and the authorities made the announcement public on Pakistan’s banned social media platform X. They did not specify the locations or specify how long the disqualification may last.
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The posts stated that” the rest of the country will continue to use mobile and internet companies as common.” The Interior Ministry’s spokeswoman could not be reached for comment right away.
In addition, telecoms firm Nayatel distributed emails to customers urging them to use “reliable telephone service” as a remedy for cellphone service suspension.
Khan has been incarcerated for more than a year and is facing more than 150 legal charges. But he remains common and his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf or PTI, says the circumstances are politically motivated.
His supporters frequently use messaging apps like WhatsApp to share data, including details about events, and desire his release on social media.
Pakistan has previously blocked main roads and highways connecting Islamabad to PTI hideouts in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and has already sealed off the city’s capital with shipping containers.
According to tracking service Netblocks, the government is enforcing VPN solutions and imposing social media platform restrictions. On Sunday, Internet-access lobbying group, Netblocks said lived measures showed WhatsApp backends are restricted in Pakistan, affecting internet sharing on the game.
The U.S. embassy issued a security alert in the capital for Americans, warning them to stay away from large gatherings and that even “peaceful gatherings can change aggressive.”
Authorities in Islamabad and Rawalpindi temporarily suspended the mobile services to prevent a pro-Khan protest last month. Communications were hampered by the stoppage, which also affected popular services like banks, ride-hailing, and food delivery.
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