The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Friday confirmed that it has started restoring internet across Pakistan, days after it blocked mobile broadband services across the country.
The telecom regulator had blocked mobile broadband services across the country on May 9 on the directives of the home ministry.
Agitated PTI supporters resorted to violence by attacking military and government buildings in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Peshawar.
The move was taken by the authorities to contain the spread of the chaos, after which access to major social media sites including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube was blocked.
A PTA spokesperson confirmed to JEE News today that internet services are being restored after receiving instructions from the Ministry of Home Affairs in this regard.
However, the spokesperson said that the ministry has not issued any guidelines regarding social media platforms.
The internet suspension has resulted in a revenue loss of around Rs 820 million for telecom operators, with reports suggesting that the sector has taken a huge hit, as the economy is still in a fragile state.
The decision to restore the internet came a day after the Supreme Court termed Khan’s arrest from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises as “illegal” and directed authorities to release him “immediately”.
The Supreme Court also asked the PTI chief to approach the IHC for bail. Later, Khan appeared before the High Court today, which granted him two weeks’ anticipatory bail in the Al-Qadir Trust case – in which the PTI chief was arrested – and authorities till May 15 in another case. I stopped arresting.
Amnesty International expresses reservations
Earlier today, Amnesty International urged Pakistani authorities to lift restrictions on internet services.
Ramil Mohiuddin, Amnesty International’s South Asia campaigner, said: “There is an urgent need to de-escalate the situation in Pakistan as it risks further serious violations of people’s rights and more deaths.”
Calling on authorities to refrain from excessive use of force, he added: “Authorities must aim to de-escalate the situation and the use of force by the state must not exceed what is necessary and proportionate.” Amnesty International urged the Pakistani authorities to exercise restraint and use minimal force without resorting to firearms to disperse the protesters.”
“Alarmingly, the government has announced that the mobile internet shutdown is ‘indefinite’ which is a clear violation of people’s right to access information and free expression,” he maintained.
“Banning social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube also creates a permissive environment for other human rights violations in the dark of internet shutdowns,” Muhyiddin highlighted, adding that ” The restrictions should be lifted immediately.”
