Pakistan partially shuts down mobile and internet services ahead of pro-Imran Khan protest

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan on Sunday suspended mobile and internet services in “areas of security concern” as supporters of Islamabad Jail of former Prime Minister Imran Khan prepared for something protest in the capital.

The government and the Ministry of Home Affairs published the announcement on social media platform X, which is banned in Pakistan. They did not specify the regions nor did they say how long the suspension would be in effect.

“Internet and mobile services will continue to operate as usual in the rest of the country,” the posts said. A Home Office spokesman was not immediately available for comment.

Khan has been in jail for more than a year and has more than 150 criminal cases against him. But he remains popular and his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, or PTI, says the trials are politically motivated.

His supporters rely heavily on social media to demand his release, using messaging platforms such as WhatsApp to share information, including details of events.

Pakistan has already blocked the capital, Islamabad, with shipping containers and blocked major roads and highways connecting the city to PTI strongholds in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.

Government bans and targets social media platforms VPN servicesAccording to Netblocks monitoring service. On Sunday, Internet access advocacy group Netblocks said live metrics showed WhatsApp backends were being throttled in Pakistan, affecting media sharing on the app.

Last month officials suspended cell phone service in Islamabad and Rawalpindi to prevent a pro-Han rally. The shutdown disrupted communications and affected daily services such as banking, ride-hailing and food delivery.