Pakistan restricts internet as citizens go to vote
Pakistan has restricted her citizens from accessing the internet as polls open to elect a new leader.
The poll comes days after the country’s court jailed former prime minister and a popular candidate in the ballot Imran Khan.
The latest development apparently aims at controlling the flow of information regarding the election.
The government has justified its action, saying it did “as a result of the recent incidents of terrorism in the country, precious lives have been lost.”
“Security measures are essential to maintain law and order situation and to deal with potential threats,” the country’s interior ministry said in a statement.
Critics of the internet shutdown include Bilawal Bhutto Zadari, son of murdered ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who called for services to be restored “immediately”.
Bhutto is a candidate on the platform of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).
His party said that it had approached the election commission and the courts to get services restored.
Security has heightened, with armed guards manning polling areas.
The results of the poll are expected to be released, in the latest, two weeks from when the poll is held.
