The Federal Ministry of Interior has refused to disclose the reasons behind the shutdown of mobile and internet services on February 8, the day of Pakistan’s general elections, citing national security concerns.
According to a report by Express News, a request was filed with the Pakistan Information Commission seeking clarity on the rationale behind the service disruptions. In response, the Interior Ministry classified the information under the Right to Information Act, indicating that it could not be released due to national security reasons.
The Pakistan Information Commission subsequently granted the Interior Ministry an exemption from sharing the requested information, reinforcing the decision.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) confirmed that the shutdown of services on Election Day was executed following directives from the federal government, specifically under the orders of the Interior Ministry.
As of now, the commission has not issued a detailed ruling on the matter, and the Ministry of Information has remained silent on the classification decision. The Interior Ministry continues to assert that any disclosure of the details could potentially compromise national security.
