The Federal Interior Ministry of Pakistan took the decision to suspend mobile phone and internet services throughout the country to ensure the maintenance of law and order during the 2024 elections.
This decision was prompted by recent terrorist incidents within the country, underlining the urgency of implementing security measures to address potential threats effectively. The temporary suspension of mobile services also had an impact on the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) 8300 SMS service, affecting communication channels during the electoral process. The interior ministry said in a message on X (formerly Twitter).
ملک میں دہشت گردی کے حالیہ واقعات کے نتیجے میں قیمتی جانوں کا ضیاع ہوا ہے، امن وامان کی صورتحال کو قائم رکھنے اور ممکنہ خطرات سے نمٹنے کے لیے حفاظتی اقدامات ناگزیر ہیں، اس لیے ملک بھر میں موبائل سروس کو عارضی طور پر معطل کرنے کا فیصلہ کیا گیا ہے۔ ترجمان وزارت داخلہ
— Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) February 8, 2024
Prior to the suspension of services, a tragic hand grenade explosion occurred in Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Iqbal area, resulting in the loss of three lives and injuries to two individuals. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Irfan Bahadur provided details, explaining that the explosion took place when a 17-year-old named Farooq, who was the son of a police officer, mishandled a hand grenade outside his residence.
In response to escalating security concerns, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja issued directives to provincial police chiefs and chief secretaries to heighten security measures, particularly in the wake of terrorist attacks in Balochistan ahead of the 2024 general elections.
Pakistan, recognized as the world’s fifth-largest democracy, embarked on the electoral process to elect representatives for the next five years. This electoral undertaking was anticipated to involve a significant turnout of voters, marking it as one of the most costly polling exercises in the nation’s history.
Numerous political parties, including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F), Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), and a multitude of independent candidates—some with support from PTI—participated in the electoral process, reflecting the diverse political landscape of Pakistan.
