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How did disabling the Internet become a weapon in the struggle for power?
On February 8, the day of voting in Pakistan, the country's authorities decided to disable Internet access throughout the country for security reasons. This decision was made against the backdrop of elections held 2 years after former Prime Minister Imran Khan was removed from office due to a lack of confidence in him by the National Assembly of the country.
The closure of polling stations took place amid controversy surrounding the election, the results of which are not expected until late Thursday evening. The results, which better reflect the picture of the elections, will be announced within a few days. In a country with 128.5 million registered voters, the turnout usually does not exceed 50%, and this time the turnout is expected to be particularly low, according to one of the representatives of the election commission.
Three-time former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is considered the election favorite, and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the son of assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and former President Asif Ali Zardari, are on the ballot.
Government officials say the Internet shutdown was a necessary security measure amid terrorist attacks aimed at disrupting the election. The attacks have already claimed the lives of at least 12 people and wounded 39 others. Criticism of the mobile service shutdown came from opposition groups and international observers, including Access Now and the Committee to Protect Journalists, who called the decision unacceptable, especially on election day.
Imran Khan, who is in prison on corruption charges, was excluded from the list of candidates. He claims that his removal was the result of collusion between the country's powerful military leadership and the United States. Khan's adviser described the Internet shutdown as a form of manipulation, emphasizing that it was an attempt to restrict voters access to information about voting locations and the use of taxi services, which could significantly affect turnout.
On February 8, the day of voting in Pakistan, the country's authorities decided to disable Internet access throughout the country for security reasons. This decision was made against the backdrop of elections held 2 years after former Prime Minister Imran Khan was removed from office due to a lack of confidence in him by the National Assembly of the country.
The closure of polling stations took place amid controversy surrounding the election, the results of which are not expected until late Thursday evening. The results, which better reflect the picture of the elections, will be announced within a few days. In a country with 128.5 million registered voters, the turnout usually does not exceed 50%, and this time the turnout is expected to be particularly low, according to one of the representatives of the election commission.
Three-time former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is considered the election favorite, and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the son of assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and former President Asif Ali Zardari, are on the ballot.
Government officials say the Internet shutdown was a necessary security measure amid terrorist attacks aimed at disrupting the election. The attacks have already claimed the lives of at least 12 people and wounded 39 others. Criticism of the mobile service shutdown came from opposition groups and international observers, including Access Now and the Committee to Protect Journalists, who called the decision unacceptable, especially on election day.
Imran Khan, who is in prison on corruption charges, was excluded from the list of candidates. He claims that his removal was the result of collusion between the country's powerful military leadership and the United States. Khan's adviser described the Internet shutdown as a form of manipulation, emphasizing that it was an attempt to restrict voters access to information about voting locations and the use of taxi services, which could significantly affect turnout.
