The Pakistani government on Thursday suspended mobile phone services and internet nationwide soon after the vote began, in a move a digital rights group said was “inherently undemocratic”.
A government statement said that “precious lives have been lost” in recent militant attacks and such “security measures are essential to maintain the law and order situation and to deal with potential threats”. At least 28 people were killed in twin bomb blasts outside candidates’ offices on Wednesday in attacks claimed by the Islamic State group, and two candidates have been shot dead in the lead-up to the vote.
NetBlocks
NetBlocks, a global internet watchdog, said data confirmed there was a disruption to mobile phone and internet services “corroborating widespread user reports of outages”. “The ongoing election day internet blackout in Pakistan is amongst the largest we’ve observed in any country in terms of severity and extent,” NetBlocks director Alp Toker told AFP. “The practice is inherently undemocratic and is known to limit the work of independent election observers and cause irregularities in the voting process.”
Interesting – the same moment telecoms networks were shut down across #Pakistan as polls opened for today’s elections, satellite internet operator Yahsat (YahClick) saw a huge rise in connectivity – to whom this exclusive service is provided we don’t know ️ (data via @netblocks) pic.twitter.com/DR9hkgEpew— Isik Mater (@isik5) February 8, 2024
Rigging Allegations
The election has already been marred by allegations of pre-vote rigging, and pollsters have predicted a low turnout following the jailing of former prime minister Imran Khan and the hobbling of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
“Even after stealing election symbol through CJP #JusticeQaziFaezIsa, sentencing @ImranKhanPTI after sham trials, jailing main leadership of #PTI and front face men/women party workers, still the fear of PTI turnout scaring #PakistanArmy that they have to shutdown mobile service across #Pakistan on polling day of #Election2024,” prominent Pak journalist Asad Ali Toor said in a post on social media.
Even after stealing election symbol through CJP #JusticeQaziFaezIsa, sentencing @ImranKhanPTI after sham trials, jailing main leadership of #PTI and front face men/women party workers, still the fear of PTI turnout scaring #PakistanArmy that they have to shutdown mobile service… pic.twitter.com/VSBnQZXTEE— Asad Ali Toor (@AsadAToor) February 8, 2024
Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, said it was “an ominous start to election day”. “It’s clear, based on the steps they took as soon as the polls opened, that the powers that be remain concerned about the PTI’s possible electoral impact. Especially its turnout potential,” he said.
Opposition
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has termed the suspension of mobile services across the country an “infuriating betrayal” by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority. It referred to the PTA’s earlier statement of receiving no instructions from the government to block internet services.
PPP leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said, “Mobile phone services must be restored immediately across the country have asked my party to approach both ECP and the courts for this purpose.” The Human Rights Council of Pakistan has expressed concern over the government’s decision to shut down mobile service and internet services in various cities.
Pakistanis, the illegitimate, fascist regime has blocked cell phone services across Pakistan on polling day.You are all requested to counter this cowardly act by removing passwords from your personal WiFi accounts, so anyone in the vicinity can have access to internet on this… pic.twitter.com/b0OwDhwBaB
— PTI (@PTIofficial) February 8, 2024
“This is sad and cause for concern. This decision of the government will affect the transparency of the election. Provision of mobile service on voting day is a basic requirement in Pakistan. We request the Election Commission and the Supreme Court of Pakistan to take immediate notice of this issue,” HRCP wrote on X.
History of Outage
Mobile phone services were not disrupted in 2018, when analysts said security concerns were greater, with a bombing at an election rally killing more than 140 people. On that election day, more than 30 people were killed in a blast in Quetta claimed by a chapter of the Islamic state.
Pakistan’s authorities regularly cut access to mobile phones during major protests or during festivals when religious tensions rise, to prevent militants from communicating with each other. Jammers are also used to prevent bombs being triggered via mobile phone. Internet and access to social media has been disrupted several times during the election campaign, coinciding with opposition online live-streams.
The government blamed the outages on “technical difficulties” but the PTI party said it was an attempt to disrupt their campaign, which has already been heavily sidelined. PTI information secretary Raoof Hasan told AFP the outage “will impede the work that our activists are doing on the ground to get people to the polling stations”. “The physical space given to us has been completely cut out so we are totally dependent on connectivity through the net,” he said.
(With agency inputs)
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