Minister of State for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja says PTA will act only on Interior Ministry directions and has received no shutdown request so far.
Pakistan’s Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja has clarified that decisions to suspend mobile internet services are taken on the direction of the Ministry of Interior, while the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) does not independently order such shutdowns.
Khawaja said the PTA has not received any request from the Interior Ministry so far regarding a possible mobile internet suspension ahead of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) march planned for Sept. 27.
The PTI has announced the march toward Islamabad while demanding the release of party founder Imran Khan.
According to Khawaja, the telecom regulator acts when it receives a formal direction from the Interior Ministry. Her comments clarify the decision-making chain at a time when questions are being raised about whether mobile internet services could be restricted during the planned demonstration.
The minister also said that if an internet shutdown becomes necessary during the march, any restrictions would be limited. She did not specify whether that would involve particular areas, a defined duration or certain types of telecom services.
Her remarks came amid separate reports that Punjab’s Home Department had approached the federal government regarding possible network restrictions in parts of Rawalpindi and Attock from Sept. 27 in connection with the PTI march.
A request from a provincial home department to the federal government is separate from a formal direction issued by the Interior Ministry to the PTA. Therefore, the existence of such a request does not by itself establish that the telecom regulator has been instructed to suspend services.
The issue has particular significance because Pakistan has previously experienced mobile and internet restrictions during political protests and other security-related situations. Such disruptions can affect businesses and individuals who rely on mobile connectivity for digital payments, transport, deliveries, communications and other daily activities.
Khawaja’s statement reiterates the government’s position that the PTA implements shutdown directions rather than making such decisions independently. The immediate question is whether the Interior Ministry will issue any formal direction before the PTI march and, if so, what geographical and time limits will apply.
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