Amnesty International has strongly criticized the internet shutdown and suspension of cellular services on election day in Pakistan, denouncing it as a “reckless attack on people’s rights.”

Livia Saccardi, Interim Deputy Director for South Asia at Amnesty International, voiced concerns on the decision, labeling it as a direct assault on the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. She emphasized the importance of access to information, especially during a critical period marked by devastating bomb blasts and an intense crackdown on opposition forces leading up to the elections.

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Amnesty International called upon the Pakistani authorities to adopt a rights-respecting approach and promptly lift all blanket restrictions on internet access. Saccardi highlighted the detrimental impact of such shutdowns on people’s mobility, livelihoods, and trust in authorities, urging for the restoration of access to enable timely information dissemination and reporting on election-related matters.

Furthermore, Access Now, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and the #KeepItOn coalition joined in condemning the caretaker government’s suspension of mobile services nationwide. They demanded the immediate reinstatement of full internet access, asserting that such actions undermine democracy by impeding people’s right to freely and fairly choose their elected representatives.