The Superior Court of Baluchistan (BHC) admitted having heard a request that challenged the suspension of mobile phone services and internet services in the province.
The authorities had suspended mobile Internet services in most of the districts of Baluchistan, including the Quetta provincial capital, on August 6, citing security concerns, which is expected to continue until August 31.
The petition was presented by the civil society of the Baluchistan consumer, arguing that the interruption has seriously affected online education, hindered commercial activities and has caused communication difficulties for travelers.
The Court, by accepting the hearing request, issued notices to the Department of Provincial Origin and the Telecommunications Authority of Pakistan (PTA), calling its representatives on August 15.
The closure has interrupted communication, education, commercial transactions and daily life, generating growing critications of the public, the business community and political representatives.
The interruption has left students that they cannot attend classes online or prepare for competitive exams, paralyzed electronic commerce operations and cut digital services used for financial transactions.
The media workers, government employees and common citizens have not been able to use popular applications such as WhatsApp and Facebook for communication.
Many residents have expressed frustration due to the lack of a detailed explanation of federal or provincial governments or PTA, The news reported.
Business leaders, including Abdul Rahim Kakar, president of the Central Anjuman Tajiran Baluchistan (registered), along with Hazrat Ali Achakzai, Mir Yaseen on Mengal, and others warned that the blackout is causing daily losses in millions of rupees.
They said that merchants, the business community and private entrepreneurs who depend on online platforms face unprecedented difficulties.
Jamiat Ulema-E-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Senator and main lawyer Kamran Murtaza presented a motion in the Senate for the debate on the internet closure, qualifying a matter of urgent public importance.
