Pakistan has announced the suspension of mobile and internet services in areas with security concerns as supporters of imprisoned former premier Imran Khan prepare for a protest in the capital. The government and Interior Ministry made the announcement on a banned social media platform without specifying the affected areas or the duration of the suspension.
According to the posts, internet and mobile services will continue to operate normally in the rest of the country. Telecom company Nayatel has offered customers a workaround with reliable landline services in the affected areas.
Imran Khan, who has been in prison for over a year and faces numerous criminal cases, remains popular among his supporters. His political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), alleges that the cases against him are politically motivated.
PTI supporters heavily rely on social media platforms to demand Khan's release and share information about events. The government has sealed off Islamabad with shipping containers and closed major roads connecting the city to PTI strongholds in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.
Authorities are also targeting VPN services and imposing bans on social media platforms. Monitoring service Netblocks reported restrictions on WhatsApp backends in Pakistan, affecting media sharing on the app.
The U.S. embassy issued a security alert advising Americans in the capital to avoid large gatherings, warning that even peaceful protests could escalate into violence.
Last month, cellphone services were suspended in Islamabad and Rawalpindi to prevent a pro-Khan rally, disrupting communications and essential services like banking and transportation.
The latest crackdown coincides with the upcoming visit of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to Pakistan.
