By Zainab Shafiq 
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) confirmed its compliance with directives from the Ministry of Interior by issuing instructions to suspend mobile phone services on February 8, coinciding with polling day. Emphasizing its role as an implementing agency, the PTA reiterated its obligation to adhere to the interior ministry’s directives.
Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) responded to a plea challenging the purported “ban” on the social media platform X, issuing notices to both the PTA and the information ministry. Chief Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi led a two-judge bench addressing similar petitions against the suspension of mobile internet, broadband services, and X/Twitter outage.
In a response to activist Jibran Nasir’s petition regarding the closure of online services, the PTA cited the Ministry of Interior’s letter dated February 8, directing the temporary suspension of “mobile services” due to security concerns. The ministry’s letter instructed the PTA to direct cellular mobile operators accordingly.
Subsequently, the PTA relayed instructions to suspend cellular data and call services nationwide (except Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir) at 5:39 am on polling day, with services set to be restored approximately 24 hours later upon ministry directives.
The PTA argued its legal obligation to comply with instructions based on intelligence agency reports. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior requested additional time to respond to the court’s queries, leading to an extension until March 20.
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