‘Security concerns’: On Pakistan Day, Balochistan blacked out
Not a single person received a ‘Happy Pakistan Day’ text message across Balochistan on Friday – and not necessarily because none were sent.
In an effort “to keep a check on militants in the province,” the government on Friday shut down cellular phone services in Balochistan, officials said. Landlines and Internet services were functional though.
“Cellular services were suspended from 8am to midnight to implement the national security policy,” Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Dr Mohammad Yasin told The Express Tribune.
The home department had requested the interior ministry to shut down cellular services, in an effort to thwart militant activities, said an official from the Balochistan Governor House.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik subsequently directed the ministry of information technology to ask PTA to shut down mobile phone services on Pakistan Day, the official added.
Javed Ahmed, public relations officer (PRO) to the Balochistan governor, confirmed to The Express Tribune that cellular services were suspended in the province on Friday on the government’s directives.
Condemnation
“I could not wish my family members on Pakistan Day,” said Jamhoori Watan Party leader Shahid Khan Bugti while speaking to The Express Tribune. He said he has been trying to contact family members all day, but in vain.
The step is against the will of Pakistan’s founders who carved out an independent state where rule of law could be supreme, said Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid Senator Rubina Irfan.
Officials associated with the chief minister and home secretary’s offices informed The Express Tribune, through landlines, that locals expressed their concerns over the recent development.
Locals visited the offices, despite Friday being an official holiday, to protest against the shutdown.
Ruling Pakistan Peoples Party’s MNA from Quetta Ayatullah Durrani, however, denied that the service suspension was for security reasons.
“The government blocked cellular services to replace the old communication system,” he said. “PTA has been directed to replace the system as soon as possible,” he added while speaking to The Express Tribune.
Interior ministry officials were tight-lipped over the issue and Interior Secretary Siddique-e-Akbar did not respond to text messages about the shutdown.
3 FC men killed, 7 injured
Despite the security measures, three paramilitary personnel were killed, and seven others injured, at a pre-dawn attack, allegedly launched by Taliban militants in Sheerani district, about 350 kilometres from Quetta.
At least four security personnel went missing after the attack and are believed to have been kidnapped by the militants.
The alleged militants, believed to be members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), ambushed a Frontier Corps (FC) Balochistan security check post in Sheerani, sources said. The area borders the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.
A senior official confirmed the incident and said militants from across the border opened indiscriminate fire at the check post, killing three FC men on the spot injuring seven others.
“Four FC men went missing after the deadly attack,” sources in security forces said.
“The incident took place in the early hours of Friday and the attackers were activists of TTP,” an official of Balochistan government said, adding that the bodies of slain personnel were first shifted to Zhob and then sent to their ancestral areas for burial.
Local sources, however, said that four FC personnel were killed in the ambush. Another source claimed that two security men were killed by their captors when they were being taken to tribal areas.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack till the filing of this report.
‘Celebrations’
Meanwhile, Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps (FC) held different functions, including sports events in Quetta, Gwadar, Loralai, Khuzdar, Chaman, Pasni, Kech and other townships to mark Pakistan Day.
Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani inaugurated a festival arranged by FC at Nawab Noroz Khan Stadium, and hoisted the Pakistani flag.
Meanwhile, Balochistan Assembly Speaker Aslam Bhootani and Provincial Minister Ali Madad Jatak led separate peace walks, from Balochistan Assembly and Saryab Road, to Ayub Stadium in the provincial capital.
(WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT BY OUR CORRESPONDENT IN QUETTA)
Published in The Express Tribune, March 24th, 2012.
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@baloch lover:
Ya,instead fighting with weapons,the Baöochi should do more LOBYIING!
Most of people in poll are against suspension of cellular service for security reasons, but from comments above i feel it's ok if it's balochistan. Why there is no suspension of service in KP when it is hit by worst terrorist acts everyday why Balochistan only.
ET have this story on top since yesterday. We get it the cellular service was off so there may not be any bad incident. but what are you trying to prove now?
True face of the awami hakumat of PPP!
Put your house in order or else we will do it for you.
With the corrupt and inept government, no wonder this has taken place. Change can't come any sooner. The Baloch have been neglected and that needs to change. I look forward to a day when Quetta is equally important as Karachi, Lahore or Peshawar.
May be the next leader starts there journey with the first speech in Balochistan, may be we get a president of Baloch dissent.
Also, time has come for Baloch to start the journey where education becomes a must. The traditions need a change and land reforms must take place. May be one day.
Have a great day and celebrate the ethos of 23rd March. Celebrate your nationality equally to religion. Be proud...
If you were prevented from texting Happy Pakistan day to someone due to the "black out", you appreciate the fact that it was done in your best interest, because callphones are also commonly used by some for destructive means.
This was done to top the circulation of "inflammatory" remarks against Pakistan. Obviously the government can't do anything else for the Baloch hence this measure.