PPP contacts CJP as parties protest mobile and internet bans
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Thursday sent a letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, citing the high court’s 2018 directives not to halt the aforementioned services on election day, in response to nationwide disruptions of cellular and internet services during the general elections.
Concerns over the “unannounced disruptions of internet and mobile network connectivity today” are “severely impacting the general elections,” according to a letter written by the Bilawal-led party to the top judge.
It further stated, “Voters are unable to coordinate logistics to access the polling stations or access information related to their polling station due to this nationwide disruption.”
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) in 2018 issued explicit decisions that prohibited internet suspension on election day, which the party requested the top court to recall. The PPP described the service suspension as an infringement on the directives of the supreme court.
“Electors, candidates, and electoral staff are facing difficulties as a result of the network services being discontinued.”
Voter participation has been hindered by the mobile network outage. It added that the services have not been restored despite the PPP’s request to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had already filed a complaint with the Pakistani Election Commission regarding nationwide delays to internet and mobile service on election day.
As part of security preparations ahead of today’s federal elections, the Ministry of Interior in Pakistan “temporarily” banned cellular communications earlier in the morning.
A spokesman for the interior ministry claimed that in the days leading up to the national elections, numerous terrorist attacks in the nation claimed innocent lives.
The PPP and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), among other political groups, expressed concern about the mobile phone service suspension, claiming that it was the “worst situation ever”.
Taj Haider, the head of the Pakistan Peoples Party’s election cell, wrote to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja, “We, the Pakistan Peoples Party, are concerned on the recent unannounced disruptions of internet and mobile network connectivity across Pakistan which is severely impacting the General Elections.”
Voters are unable to arrange transportation to the voting places or obtain information about their polling place as a result of this nationwide disturbance, he continued.
Voters, candidates, and electoral workers are all having issues as a result of the network services being discontinued.
The complaint went on, “Understandably, voters are unable to access vital information about polling stations and follow other electoral procedures and coordinate logistics to access respective polling stations if they do not have access to the internet and mobile networks.”
In order to guarantee free and fair elections, the PPP implored the ECP to act quickly to restore internet and mobile network access.
It further stated, “ECP’s commitment to a free, fair, and transparent Elections 2024 will be demonstrated by the immediate restoration of mobile network and internet.”
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had already declared that his party would file cases with the ECP and the appropriate courts to try to have cell phone service back on election day.
Mobile phone services must be restored immediately across the country have asked my party to approach both ECP and the courts for this purpose.
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) February 8, 2024
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