Minister of State for IT and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima Khawaja has said that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has not yet received a request to suspend internet services in Rawalpindi and Attock, and no final decision has been made on the matter.
Speaking about the possible suspension, Shaza Fatima said the procedure requires a request from the provincial government to be sent to the federal Ministry of Interior. The PTA then takes action on the ministry’s instructions.
She said she had checked the situation with the PTA, but no request or directive had so far been received from the Ministry of Interior.
The minister added that if internet or mobile services need to be restricted due to law and order concerns in a particular area, the situation would be reviewed. However, there is no plan to shut down internet services across the country.
Shaza Fatima said the Ministry of Interior would assess the situation and issue instructions to the PTA where necessary. Under the existing policy, she added, any such measure would be kept limited to the smallest possible area.
The development comes after the Punjab government reportedly requested the federal Ministry of Interior to consider downgrading or restricting mobile and internet services in certain areas of Rawalpindi and Attock ahead of expected political activity on September 27.
