Pakistani authorities have placed Islamabad under a security lockdown and temporarily shut down partial mobile phone and internet connections as the loyalists of the incarcerated ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan planned for his freedom march in Islamabad.
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Government Enforces Communication Blackout Amid Protests in Pakistan
Late in the evening of November, 23 the government informed the population that internet and cellular communications would be unavailable “in areas where security had been compromised,” but would, “remain fully functional in the remaining regions of the country.”
It did not indicate what areas were involved, or when the suspension would be done. The announcement was posted on X – a website that is considered ‘restricted’ in Pakistan.
Some of the ways through which the protesters are likely to access the city and troop to the area surrounding the parliament have been closed down by the government of Pakistan.
The majority of the main routes within the city have also been blocked by barriers made of shipping containers, a lot of police officers and members of the paramilitary force were clad in full riot gear.
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Protests Over Imran Khan’s Arrest
Islamabad police then released a statement saying that any form of gathering has been prohibited under legal laws.
Khan has been in prison since August 2023, and he stands accused in more than 150 legal proceedings, including corruption and provoking violence.
Khan and his party, the Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaf or PTI, have dismissed all the allegations as politically motivated.
Khan’s supporters, therefore, employ social media to call for his release and use social media applications some of which are specific such as WhatsApp to market the information hence the details of the protest rallies.
Khan’s close associate, Ali Amin Gandapur, the chief of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, urged protesters to assemble around the restricted zone called D Chowk.
The red zone accommodates the building hosting the country’s parliament and other strategic government offices and agencies, as well as the offices of the embassies and other foreign institutions.
“Khan has asked us to stay there until our demands are met,” Gandapur said in a video message on November 23. He is expected to lead the largest convoy into Islamabad to kick off the campaign.
Earlier last month a protest by PTI turned ugly in Islamabad where one policeman was shot dead, many others injured and protesters detained. Protesters and the authorities blamed each other for provoking the violence.
The essential communication mediums, namely Internet and cellphone services, during that protest, were cut off, in a way errands like banking, transportation, and meal delivery were all impacted.
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