International Desk, 10 May: Former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan was taken into custody on Tuesday and as a result mobile internet services were suspended nationwide by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). The telecommunications regulator reportedly stated that it had suspended the internet services in accordance with instructions from the interior ministry.
As per reports on Tuesday, due to Khan’s arrest from the grounds of the Islamabad High Court in the AL-Qadir Trust case, access to Twitter, Facebook and YouTube was curtailed nationwide. A human rights organization Amnesty International urged PTA to restart internet services and give citizens access to Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
Taking to their official Twitter handle, Amnesty International South Asia, Regional Office stated, “Pakistan: Amid concerns about escalating clashed 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.”
“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 added.
Following Imran Khan’s detention as the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf numerous of his fans organised demonstrations that resulted in vandalism around the nation. Imran Khan was arrested in front of the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday. Since he was removed from office in April of last year, Khan has been connected to more than a hundred different crimes.
After losing a vote of no confidence last year, he was removed as prime minister. Khan, however, claimed that his dismissal was a part of a US-led plot against him in response to his independent stance on Russia, China, and Afghanistan.