Mobile phone services were restored in some parts of Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Sunday afternoon after two long days amid an uncertain situation in the twin cities due to the protest at D-Chowk Islamabad.
Residents of Islamabad were confined to their homes all weekend as nearly all major roads were blocked by massive containers, creating chaos for the public, particularly for those facing emergency or health issues.
Traveling between Rawalpindi and Islamabad became a significant challenge for ordinary residents caught in the political turmoil. “My mother was discharged from the hospital on Friday morning, and it took us two hours to get home,” said Mohammad Asghar, a DHA resident. “The worst part was that our mobile phones were useless—there was no data network. You can imagine how worried our family at home must have been.”
While mobile internet services were disrupted, indoor Wi-Fi systems remained functional.
Suspension of phone service adds to disarray
The suspension of cellphone service in Islamabad and Rawalpindi throughout Friday and Saturday disrupted communications and affected basic services such as online banking, ride-hailing, and food delivery.
Authorities suspended cellphone service and blocked key roads into Pakistan’s capital with shipping containers Friday to try to thwart a rally by supporters seeking the release of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Over two days, clashes between Khan supporters and police turned violent, with police firing tear gas to disperse protesters. The government has said that dozens of cops were injured in clashes between the two sides.
A senior official of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said that the “cellular services have been suspended in urban areas of Rawalpindi district and Islamabad due to serious concerns of threats by the security agencies,” according to a Dawn report.
Islamabad High Court orders govt to ‘restore normalcy’
Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered the government to restore normalcy in the city and designate a location for PTI to hold its protest.
Hearing the petition on Saturday (October 5), IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq said he had to “pass through containers” to get to the court. He ordered the federal government and local administration to ensure that PTI’s protest was held at the designated place.
“It seems like a curfew is in place in the city, and you must take steps to bring things back to normal. It is your responsibility to ensure that Islamabad remains a peaceful city,” the IHC CJ remarked.