Govt hints at suspending internet services on polling day

Caretaker Interior Minister Dr Gohar Ejaz has hinted at suspending the internet services on February 8, saying that the government may take action if it gets a request from a district or province in view of the security situation.

“So far, there has been no decision made regarding the suspension of internet services at any place,” said Information Minister Murtaza Solangi during a presser in Islamabad.

On Monday, he turned down the possibility of an internet shutdown on February 8, saying that local administrations have the authority to decide on an internet shutdown.

Menawhile, caretaker Balochistan Information Minister Jan Achakzai announced that the internet service will remain temporarily restricted in the sensitive polling booths in the province on election day.

Ejaz, while talking about the law and order situation today, said that the government was making efforts to hold peaceful elections without any loss of lives.

He told that there are 90,777 polling stations across the country of which over 40,000 have been declared normal.

Meanwhile, 20,985 polling stations have been declared sensitive and 16,766 have been declared most sensitive.

As many as eight law enforcement officials will be posted at every polling station across the country, he added,

Over 137,000 law enforcement agencies have been deployed in the country, he concluded.