Mobile Networks Suspended in the Face of TUQ’s Arrival

It seems that the Government has taken the country’s mobile networks as a convenient tool at its disposal. In the past there have been several instances where the Government has taken the plea of potential security threats and closed down mobile networks either all across the country or in selective parts of Pakistan. Recently, however, it seems that the Government is inclined to shut down the mobile networks at a mere whim or in face of political opposition. The question is, does the Pakistani government have the right to shut down the mobile networks of the country when it wants; are mobile networks merely a government tool?

Too Afraid of TUQ?

Tahir-ul-Qadri is all over the news and more importantly all over Twitter with #TUQ but it seems as if the Government is all set to make TUQ into a phenomenon. In the face of TUQ’s arrival at Islamabad in the morning today, various barricades have been put up and the police force is busy trying to keep the TUQ supporters at bay. At the same time, the Government has also conveniently shut down mobile networks in certain areas of Rawalpindi and Lahore.

According the sources, mobile networks will be restored in the above listed areas of Rawalpindi at midnight today but the mobile networks will be down in Lahore till further orders from the government. In the past, the government has regularly suspended the networks on sensitive religious days like Ashura and Eid Milad-un-Nabi.