ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Interior Ministry has decided to “temporarily suspend mobile services across the country” in light of the “deteriorating security situation” local media reported.
In a statement, the interior ministry said, “Recent surge in terrorist activities resulting in precious lives have stirred security environment in Pakistan.” Therefore, it said, “need has arisen to take steps to safeguard against” security threats.
Interior Ministry
Polling for Pakistan’s one-day general elections has started across the nation, local media reported. Voters have started reaching polling stations to cast their votes to elect a new government for the next term. Long queues have been seen inside the polling stations established to facilitate voters cast their votes with the nation hoping of economic progress and stability in Pakistan.
Rush of voters is being observed outside the polling stations. Polling started at 8:00 a.m. local time and will continue uninterrupted till 5:00 p.m. in the evening.
The elections on a National Assembly seat and three provincial assembly seats have been postponed due to multiple reasons, including the death of some candidates.
The PML-N, PPP, MQM-P, JUI-F, PML-Q, TLP, JI, ANP and other regional and religious parties are vying for their share of the political pie with the beleaguered PTI fielding its candidates as independents. The Free and Fair Elections Network (FAFEN) reports that as many as 111 political parties have nominated 275 female candidates for the upcoming general elections, representing 4.6 percent of the total of 6,037 candidates.
