The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has decided to shut down internet service ahead of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf protest march in Islamabad on Sunday (tomorrow), sources said on Saturday.
Incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan has asked his supporters to march towards Islamabad on November 24 for democracy and judiciary. But Defence Minister Khawaja Asif believes the protest is akin to “insurrection” as the former ruling party allegedly wants to usurp the federal capital.
The PTI founder has set four demands for ending protests while his wife has stated that the date would only change if Khan is out of jail.
Khan’s PTI encountered a significant setback on Thursday when the Islamabad High Court ruled that no protests or rallies violating a recent law on public gatherings would be permitted over the weekend due to the visit of the Belarusian president.
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Sources added that the interior ministry has sent a letter to the PTA regarding the suspension of mobile phone and internet services.
Mobile phone services would remain operational, but internet and Wi-Fi services would be disabled, they said and added the decision to restrict mobile signals would be made based on the situation.