KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) maintained its stay order on Tuesday, directing the government to maintain nationwide internet access, including mobile access, until the polls on February 8.
The SHC ordered the relevant authorities on January 24 to guarantee that all residents have continuous access to internet services through the general elections on February 8.
The high court ordered the respondents to submit their response by January 29 and prohibited the authorities from halting internet services.
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Shariat Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi voiced his dismay at the suspension of internet access during a case hearing today, asking, “How would the internet work anywhere else when it’s not even working for them [judges]”
It appeared, he said, that the internet would continue to work after the elections.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) attorney did not show up for the hearing, therefore the high court postponed it until February 21.
Prior to the general elections, Jibran Nasir, the independent candidate for PS-110 and a rights activist, filed a petition in the SHC protesting the nation’s regular internet service outages.
Murtaza Solangi, the interim minister of information, rejected the idea of blocking the internet on February 8, a day when over 128 million people are anticipated to exercise their constitutional right to vote for representatives.
