The caretaker government would not suspend the internet services on Election Day, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority said on Wednesday.
“The internet service will be available to users on Election Day,” the PTA said in a statement.
Amidst calls from human rights organizations for uninterrupted internet access during the general elections in Pakistan, the Caretaker Interior Minister hinted at the possibility of suspending internet services on Election Day due to violence concerns in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, such a decision would only be made upon request from specific districts or provinces.
Contrary to speculation, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) assured that internet services would remain uninterrupted during the elections.
Regarding election procedures, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) emphasized the use of a specialized Election Management System (EMS) for result tabulation. Despite concerns raised by returning officers about faults in the EMS, the ECP confirmed its distribution to 859 officers. Each officer was equipped with necessary IT resources, including mobile access to facilitate result transmission.
The EMS, integrated with GPS technology, ensures secure result management through a private network, minimizing reliance on public internet infrastructure. In areas lacking fiber optic connectivity, satellite communication is utilized.
The ECP further clarified that presiding officers would display result sheets outside polling stations for transparency. Additionally, all polling agents are required to sign Form 45 to validate election transparency.
