The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued a directive on Wednesday instructing relevant authorities to ensure uninterrupted internet access for all citizens leading up to the general elections on February 8.
Human rights activist Jibran Nasir filed the petition on the issue the other day following recurrent suspension of internet services in the country.
The court’s order also prohibited authorities from suspending internet services and directed that the respondents submit their response by January 29.
As political campaigning intensifies ahead of the upcoming elections, users have faced multiple internet outages in recent days.
On January 20, social media platforms, including Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube, experienced their second outage in two weeks.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) attributed the nationwide internet outage to a “technical fault” in its optic fibre network after a prolonged disruption the previous week.
However, reports from downdetector.pk indicated disruptions in Google services and the internet service provider PTCL.
Social media also buzzed with accounts of a complete internet blackout looming before the polls.
It is interesting to note that the suspension of the internet services coincided with the virtual gathering of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf that is currently facing the heat for its leadership alleged involvement in the May 9 incidents.
On May 9, PTI Founder Imran Khan was arrested in a corruption case that led to countrywide violent protests and burning of the sensitive installations in the country.
