A top information-technology (IT) body in Pakistan has urged the government to restore the internet services that were suspended across the country in the wake of violent protests erupting after the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday (9).
People in Pakistan have resorted to using various VPN services after the interior ministry directed the Pakistan Telecom Authority to suspend internet services and also some social media platforms on Tuesday.
The Pakistan Software Houses Association (PASHA), the sole representative body of IT and IT-enabled services in the country, criticised the government's move.
“The IT and IT-related services including software is already facing a crisis in Pakistan due to the ill-timed and faulty policies of the government and now this step without consulting us has only further deepened the crisis in the business, trade and IT industries,” PASHA president Muhammad Zohaib Khan said.
“Apart from the general public, which is struggling to get their work done, the suspension of internet services is causing losses of millions of dollars as no foreign client would give even a few days leverage to its partners in Pakistan," he said.
PASHA called on the government to end the suspension and disruption of internet services in the country, saying it was causing losses of millions of dollars to the IT, trade and business industries. Zohaib noted that banks, business houses, trade companies and IT services are all dependent on fast internet services.
“Internet is our lifeline and business houses, satellite infrastructure and IT industry are solely dependent on it for work. Since Tuesday evening, everything has gone blank,” he said.
Human rights group Amnesty International has also urged the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to restore internet services in the country and access to social media platforms.
"Pakistan: Amid concerns about escalating clashes between Imran Khan's supporters and the police, Amnesty International is alarmed by reports that Pakistani authorities have suspended mobile internet and access to Twitter, Facebook and YouTube," Amnesty International South Asia, Regional Office tweeted on Tuesday. "This restricts people's access to information and freedom of expression. We call upon the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority and Interior Ministry to immediately reverse this ban," it said in another tweet.
The government's stringent measures came as violent protests erupted in many parts of the country soon after the arrest of Khan on Tuesday morning.
(With PTI inputs)
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