Government employees in Afghanistan have started switching off their smartphones after an order reportedly issued by the country’s supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.
A letter bearing the emblem of the Supreme Court (SC) began circulating on social media last week, announcing a ban on smartphones for all government workers. The court has not commented on the letter.
“All the heads of departments in their respective provinces are advised to inform their staff, higher-ranking or lower-ranking, that using smartphones is strictly banned effective 17 June,” the letter stated.
The directive applies to employees in both military and civilian departments and says exemptions can only be granted by the supreme leader.
Despite the order, several central government departments were still sharing information through WhatsApp groups as of Wednesday afternoon.
Two Afghan government spokespersons did not respond to requests for comment on the reported ban.
In Ghazni province, located between Kabul and Kandahar, government employees began signing off from their smartphones on Tuesday evening.
