PESHAWAR – Internet blackouts, suspended mobile networks and disrupted businesses added to turmoil in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where emergency rule and heightened security measures have intensified uncertainty across several districts.
KP communication networks remains disrupted on Monday amid the political upheaval surrounding the imposition of emergency rule and the suspension of the PTI-led provincial government.
The latest disruption left residents struggling to access mobile data, Wi-Fi and, in some locations, fixed-line internet services. The outages also affected journalists, ordinary citizens and businesses relying on digital platforms to communicate with customers and process online orders.
Internet Watchdog NetBlocks reported major internet connectivity disruption in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa late Sunday. Its assessment linked the incident to the political developments following President Asif Ali Zardari’s imposition of emergency rule, amid continuing protests demanding the release of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan.
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The shutdown did not appear to affect the entire province uniformly, with reports indicating different levels of disruption and restoration across districts. Peshawar experienced interruptions to mobile signals and internet connectivity as security measures intensified. Reports also pointed to disruptions affecting landline and DSL services in some areas, although the impact varied between the city centre and its outskirts.
By Monday, however, internet and cellular services had reportedly been fully restored in Peshawar. Swabi continued to face a more difficult situation, with mobile networks and internet connections, including PTCL services, reportedly remaining suspended in the district as of Monday.
The continuing outage created problems for businesses dependent on online orders, digital payments and customer communication. Container barricades at motorway entry points further complicated movement, adding another challenge for residents and commercial activity.
Despite scale of the reported disruption, neither PTA nor federal Interior Ministry had publicly provided a detailed explanation of the latest shutdown or confirmed its complete geographical coverage.
The internet disruption came amid a major political confrontation following the federal government’s imposition of emergency rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on October 11. The move suspended the PTI-led provincial administration headed by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. The federal government cited the provincial government’s alleged failure to address escalating militancy as justification for the decision.