Internet Suspension in Makran Region
In Islamabad, Col (retd) Muhammad Saad Ali, the EMS Project Director, revealed on Wednesday that security threats prompted the suspension of internet services in Balochistan’s Makran region, just a day before the general elections.
Impact on Election Results
Saad Ali explained to media personnel the potential delays in receiving election results due to the lack of internet connectivity. Despite this, he assured that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) would receive the results, possibly on the second day if not the first, emphasizing that the issue was not considered major.
Assurances from Authorities
Efforts had been made to minimize disruptions in the EMS on election day, with assurances received from the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) regarding uninterrupted power supply during polling.
Management of Election Processes
Saad Ali stated that they were logging presiding officers into the EMS, while monitoring ROs and field officers from the control room in Islamabad. While presiding officers might face difficulties in sending results without internet, Saad Ali clarified that ROs would not be affected.
Ensuring Timely Results
He emphasized the importance of timely delivery of Form 45 to the ROs, highlighting that communication between presiding officers and ROs relied on the internet. Once received, ROs would promptly announce the results, although slight delays might occur from about 10% of RO offices.
Government Assurance on Internet Services
Earlier, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) assured the public that internet services would not be suspended nationwide on polling day. The PTA confirmed that no directives had been issued by the interim government to shut down internet services during the elections.
Response to Speculation
Interim Interior Minister Gohar Ejaz clarified that any decision to suspend internet or mobile services would only be taken based on security requests from specific districts or provinces.
Human Rights Concerns
This assurance followed speculation regarding possible internet disruptions during the elections, prompting the Amnesty International (AI) and other human rights organizations to urge Pakistani authorities to guarantee uninterrupted internet access, emphasizing the importance of freedom of expression and access to information online.
Previous Disruptions and Legal Action
Internet services had experienced disruptions thrice in the past two months, coinciding with virtual events organized by the PTI. The interim government attributed these outages to technical issues. In response to concerns, the Sindh High Court ordered the caretaker federal government and PTA to ensure uninterrupted internet services till polling day, following a petition filed by human rights defender Jibran Nasir.
Recent Petition to Supreme Court
Recently, the PTI petitioned the Supreme Court regarding disruptions of social media platforms, including X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, which the party relied on for communication and outreach efforts.
