Govt zips lips on Feb 8 internet shutdown, cites security

A request was submitted seeking clarification on the disruption of services during the elections

ISLAMABAD:

The Ministry of Interior has refused to disclose the reasons for shutting down mobile and internet services on February 8 general elections, citing concerns over national security.

A request was submitted to the Pakistan Information Commission seeking clarification on the disruption of services during the elections.

However, in response, the ministry classified the information under the Right to Information Act, stating that the details could not be made public due to national security risks.

The Information Commission has granted the interior ministry an exemption from releasing the information.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) confirmed that it acted in accordance with federal government directives and that the shutdown was executed under the ministry's orders.

While the commission has yet to issue a detailed ruling, the Ministry of Information has remained silent on the classification.

The interior ministry maintained that revealing further details would compromise national security.

Overemphasis on security, mismanagement on part of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the eleventh-hour 'unilateral' decision of the caretaker government to shut down mobile phone services not only caused delay in the announcement of the election results, but also refreshed the memories of the 2018 RTS controversy, thus making the fairness of the elections doubtful for many.

In addition, some unnecessary statements issued by Chief Election Commi­ssioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja in defence of the government's action of suspending the mobile phone and internet services and about the declaration of the results within the stipulated legal timeframe as well as his directives to returning officers (ROs) to announce the results within 30 minutes compounded the perplexed political situation.