Mobile Phone and Internet Services Restored Across Pakistan

Mobile phone and internet services are being restored across Pakistan after a suspension of over 22 hours during Pakistan’s General Elections 2024. Despite polling ending at 5:00 pm on February 8, the mobile phone services remained suspended at 5:00 am on February 9, 2024 across most of Pakistan, which is also causing a delay in announcement of election results.

The suspension of internet and mobile phone services was condemned by political parties, including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had also requested the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Qazi Faez Isa to take notice of the suspension and urged authorities to restore internet and mobile phone services immediately.

However, caretaker Prime Minister, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, stated that decision to suspend mobile phone services was suspended due to security concerns over a new wave of terrorism in the country.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has begun announcing results for the General Elections 2024 based on the unofficial results. According to the Special Secretary of the ECP, Zafar Iqbal, the delay in the results is being caused by blockage of internet services in Pakistan.