(Daily Point)- – Interior Minister Dr. Gohar Ejaz, in a press conference held in Islamabad alongside Information Minister Murtaza Solangi, stated on Tuesday that the government would only consider suspending internet services on February 8th if requested by a district or province due to security concerns.
“As of now, no decision has been made regarding the suspension of internet services in any location,” the minister clarified.
The day prior, Minister Solangi had dismissed the possibility of an internet shutdown on February 8th, emphasizing that local administrations retain the authority to make such decisions based on law and order considerations, yet stressed that no such need had arisen thus far.
Caretaker Balochistan Information Minister Jan Achakzai had announced earlier that internet services would be temporarily restricted in sensitive polling booths in the province on election day.
Regarding the law and order situation, Minister Ejaz assured that the government was committed to ensuring peaceful elections without any loss of life.
“Election fervor in Sindh appears high, with no apparent hostility between political parties,” Ejaz remarked, also noting the absence of tension among candidates in Balochistan during his visit.
He outlined the government’s security measures, mentioning deployment of commandos in Balochistan for swift response, and assured multi-layered security with police, civil armed forces, and army personnel ensuring protection.
With over 90,000 polling stations nationwide, more than 40,000 have been classified as normal, while approximately 21,000 and 16,000 have been marked as sensitive and most sensitive, respectively. Each polling station will be manned by seven to eight law enforcement officials, with a total of over 137,000 deployed across the country.
Additionally, Pakistan Army troops will serve as quick reaction forces.
Minister Ejaz urged citizens in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a region significantly affected by terrorism, to exercise their voting rights on February 8th, emphasizing the government’s commitment to safeguarding all citizens’ lives.
