The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has not received any request to suspend internet services in Rawalpindi or Attock ahead of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) march planned for September 27, Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja said on Friday.
Khawaja said the PTA, which regulates telecom services, had not received any direction from the Ministry of Interior to restrict connectivity in the two districts.
“As of now, PTA has not received any such request from the Ministry of Interior,” she said.
Her remarks came in response to questions about a request by the Punjab government for internet restrictions in Rawalpindi and Attock in connection with the planned protest.
Khawaja explained that provincial governments submit requests for such measures to the Ministry of Interior, which may subsequently direct the PTA to take action.
Asked whether the federal government considered an internet shutdown necessary to maintain law and order, the minister said the government had moved away from nationwide restrictions over the past one-and-a-half to two years.
She said authorities instead worked with the Interior Ministry, security agencies and provincial administrations to limit any disruption to areas facing specific security concerns.
Khawaja added that the government’s approach was to keep any restrictions hyper-localised and minimal, rather than impose a nationwide suspension.
“If there is a need, we will keep it hyper-localised,” she said, stressing that any restrictions would be confined to specific areas.
The minister also said the approach was intended to avoid disrupting internet access for people in areas not affected by security concerns.
