PPP Pens Letter To CJP As Parties Slam Internet, Mobile Suspension

The PPP has termed the suspension of internet and mobile services as a breach of the high court's directives.

PPP Pens Letter To CJP As Parties Slam Internet, Mobile Suspension

Following the countrywide suspension of cellular and internet services during the general elections, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) submitted a letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa on Thursday, citing the high court's directives issued in 2018 to not halt the services on election day.

The PPP expressed its reservations in a letter to the chief justice, stating that "unannounced disruptions of internet and mobile network connectivity today" are "severely impacting the general elections."

"Due to this countrywide disruption, voters are unable to access information related to their polling station or coordinate logistics to access the polling stations," the letter read.

The party requested the Supreme Court to recall unambiguous directives not to block internet access on election day, which were issued by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in 2018. The PPP described the suspension of services as a breach of the high court's directives.

"The discontinuation of network services has created problems for voters, candidates, and electoral staff."

The interruption of the mobile network had an influence on voter participation. Despite the PPP's plea to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the services have not been restored, it said.

Earlier, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) filed a complaint with the Election Commission of Pakistan over cellphone and internet service interruptions across the country on election day.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Omar Ayub Khan slammed the government for disconnecting mobile phone and internet services on election day, calling it an interference in the voting process and an inconvenience for people.

Later, the party addressed a letter to the ECP, protesting about the problems voters were facing as a result of the suspension of mobile services.