Locals protest against ban on mobile internet in Bajaur

The protesters demanded of the authorities a complete restoration of internet

BAJAUR:

Hundreds of local residents on Wednesday staged a protest demonstration against the closure of mobile internet by cellular services providers in the Bajaur tribal district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

They said that there was a disruption in the mobile internet for the past few days but on Tuesday the internet signals disappeared altogether.

“We are living in a modern age where internet is now part of our day to day lives and its sudden disconnection has disrupted the lives of tribesmen to a great instant,” they said.

The protesters blocked the Peshawar-Bajaur highway for several hours and demanded of the authorities a complete restoration of internet.

“Due to the sudden ban on 3G and 4G internet in the tribal district the students are facing real hardship along with telecom sector,” they observed, adding that a large number of resident of Bajaur work in other cities including Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad and mobile internet is the cheapest way to connect to your loved one.

Meanwhile, when contacted an official of the district administration informed The Express Tribune that the mobile internet has been closed down due to worsening law and order situation across the province.

“Militants have staged a comeback in recent months and they are using mobile internet for connectivity so as a preventive measure it has been decided to ban 4G and 3G internet service in the district,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2022.