Jan Achakzai, the Caretaker Information Minister of Balochistan, has announced the temporary suspension of internet services around critical polling stations in the province ahead of the General Elections scheduled for February 8, 2024.
This decision, according to Achakzai, is a response to a terrorism alert, aiming to ensure the safety and security of citizens during the electoral process. Internet services will be halted as a precautionary measure, particularly in areas such as Turbat, Mach, Chaman, and other sensitive regions within Balochistan.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to protecting civilians, Achakzai expressed concerns over potential exploitation of social media platforms by terrorists to incite violence during the elections.
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In addition to the internet suspension, the Balochistan government has imposed restrictions on public gatherings and election-related meetings as a preemptive measure. Achakzai cited heightened security risks, including the presence of a suspected female suicide bomber in the provincial capital, as factors influencing this decision.
Contrary to the measures in Balochistan, Murtaza Solangi, the Caretaker Information Minister of Pakistan, clarified that there have been no directives issued by the government to suspend mobile or internet services in other parts of the country on polling day. Solangi assured that any law-and-order situation arising during the elections would be addressed by local administrations accordingly.
Solangi urged citizens to exercise their voting rights responsibly, emphasizing the importance of their participation in ensuring the democratic continuity of the country.
Despite security challenges, both the Information Ministers of Balochistan and Pakistan, along with the central government in Islamabad, have affirmed that the General Elections will proceed as scheduled on February 8th.
