Mobile data services in Balochistan began to be restored on Thursday following an order by the Balochistan High Court (BHC) to immediately resume connectivity. The development brings an end to a suspension that lasted more than two weeks, leaving millions of residents without reliable access to communication tools. Earlier in August, authorities had announced the suspension of mobile data until August 31 citing security concerns, a move that generated strong opposition from civil society groups who argued that such restrictions disrupted daily life and undermined basic constitutional rights.
The legal challenge against the suspension was brought forward by Balochistan’s Consumer Civil Society chairman Khair Muhammad Shaheen, who filed a constitutional petition against PTA and other concerned authorities. The petition highlighted that mobile internet services were essential for businessmen, students, and educational institutions, emphasizing that the blanket suspension curtailed fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution. The arguments referenced specific articles, including Article 9 on the security of person, Article 15 on freedom of movement, Article 18 on the freedom of trade and profession, Article 19-A on the right to information, and Article 25 on equality of citizens. These constitutional provisions, the petition argued, were being infringed upon through the prolonged disruption of services in the province.
A two-member BHC bench, consisting of Chief Justice Rozi Khan Barrech and Justice Sardar Ahmed Halimi, had first heard the matter on August 13. At that hearing, the court directed Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Awan and Balochistan Advocate General Adnan Basharat to submit responses on the rationale behind shutting down internet services across the province. The same bench convened again today and issued a directive for the restoration of mobile internet in Quetta within two hours. Following this order, services were promptly resumed in Quetta and extended to several nearby areas, including parts of Pishin and Chaman. PTA officials confirmed that complete restoration in Dalbandin, Pishin, Chaman, and Taftan was also underway and expected to be completed within hours.
PTA Director Jamil Ahmed, who appeared in court, assured that compliance with the order had already begun. He noted that while internet had been restored in some districts, a phased process was required, adding that “it takes some time to restore the system” across all affected regions. The hearing was adjourned until August 25, with Chief Justice Barrech cautioning that failure to restore mobile internet fully by that date would result in contempt proceedings against the PTA secretary. The suspension of services in Balochistan has often been tied to the province’s fragile security situation, where militant groups have escalated their activities in recent months. In November last year, PTA had announced suspensions across multiple districts in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, citing urgent security threats following terrorist attacks. The recent court order is now being seen as a critical step toward balancing security considerations with the protection of citizens’ fundamental digital rights.
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