Mobile network and internet suspension in Bannu, Bajaur and Tank triggered heated debate in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Monday, with lawmakers from both the treasury and opposition benches demanding an explanation from the provincial government over the prolonged blackout affecting the three districts. The session saw ruling party MPA Pakhtoon Yar Khan walk out after failing to receive a satisfactory response from the concerned minister regarding the complete shutdown of mobile services in Bannu, though Deputy Speaker Suraya Bibi later persuaded him to return to the House after offering assurances that the matter would be addressed.
Raising the issue on a point of order, Pakhtoon Yar Khan said mobile networks in Bannu had been entirely suspended, creating an impression among residents that unusual restrictions were in force and that normal life had come to a standstill in the district. Special Assistant on Technical Education Usman Betani had earlier raised the closure of mobile towers in Tank, while MPA Anwar Zeb informed the House that mobile and internet services in Bajaur had remained suspended for several months without resolution. ANP lawmaker Nisar Baz, speaking from the opposition benches, linked the prolonged suspension to a decline in the writ of the government in Bajaur, pointing to a pattern of daily security incidents in the district that he said warranted closer attention from provincial authorities.
Deputy Speaker Suraya Bibi noted that mobile services fall under federal jurisdiction and directed that a provincial coordination committee meeting be convened to resolve the issue at the appropriate level. Provincial Law Minister Aftab Alam told the Assembly that no curfew was in place in Bannu and that only routine, intelligence based measures were being carried out in the area. Pakhtoon Yar Khan disputed this account, citing an official post on the social media page of the Deputy Commissioner of Bannu that referenced directives for a curfew and mobile service suspension, which had also led to the postponement of ETA tests scheduled in the district. He asked who was providing inaccurate information to the minister on the ground situation.
Following repeated exchanges between Pakhtoon Yar Khan and the minister over the discrepancy in official statements, the Deputy Speaker directed the Home Department to compile a detailed report, consult with relevant authorities, and present its findings before the House at the earliest opportunity. The prolonged suspension of mobile and internet services across the three districts has drawn continued attention from lawmakers concerned about the impact on residents’ daily communication, business activity and access to digital services, with the matter now awaiting a formal response from the provincial Home Department following the Assembly’s directive.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
