Following the announcement of a protest march by a religious group, the federal government has decided to suspend mobile internet services in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
The Interior Ministry has directed the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) to take necessary steps to suspend mobile Internet services in both twin cities.
According to government communications, Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi has approved the decision to suspend mobile internet services. The suspension will come into effect from tonight and depend on the security situation, further notice will remain in place.
To implement this decision, PTA has been launched with Chief Commissioners and Inspectors General Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The authority has also been instructed to be in touch with law enforcement agencies to ensure effective communication and security management during the protest.
The move comes in the expectation of a religious group’s planned march towards Islamabad. Containers have already been placed on key points in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, and it is expected that major highways will be closed to control the movement and maintain order.
Security has been tied up in the twin cities, and traffic is being planned. Authorities say the decision is aimed at preventing the misuse of any potential disruption or digital platform during the protest.