ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Interior Minister Dr. Gohar Ejaz said on Friday 16 people were killed in 56 incidents of violence during general elections a day earlier, justifying the closure of mobile phone networks on polling day as a requirement to ensure the security of millions of voters.
Around 650,000 security personnel were deployed on the streets and at polling booths across Pakistan to secure general elections on Feb. 8, in which 128 million registered voters were expected to vote.
On the morning of Thursday, just minutes before polls opened, the government shut down mobile phone services and temporarily shut its borders with neighbors Iran and Afghanistan.
The government said the measures were taken as the run-up to elections was marred by attacks on rallies, election offices and candidates. Just a day before the election, 28 people were killed in a number of attacks in the Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.
“Despite stringent security measures, 56 incidents occurred yesterday [Thursday] resulting in 16 casualties, and causing injuries to 54 others,” Ejaz told reporters in Islamabad.
Three soldiers, two paramilitary Levies troops, seven police officers and four civilians, including two children, were among the dead.
“We had to take the difficult decision of suspending mobile phone services across the country to disallow terrorists the means to communicate, coordinate, and conduct terrorist operations,” he said, explaining that mobile devices were instrumental in initiating the trigger mechanisms for modern explosive devices, causing mass deaths.
“There were credible reports of terrorist entities such as the Tehreek-I-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Daesh, and foreign-sponsored militant organizations in Balochistan, among others, trying to create a serious law and order situation by attacking law enforcement agencies and civilians to shake the confidence of the nation and dissuade them from exercising their democratic right,” the interior minister said.
“The decision to close mobile and Internet signals was not taken lightly, knowing it would draw criticism from various quarters, but we prioritized the safety of human lives above all else.”
He said election authorities had no role in the decision to close mobile networks, which was taken by security agencies.
Unusual delays in the vote counts on Thursday were due to a suspension of mobile phone services, the minister said.
“The lack of communication was the result of precautionary measures taken to ensure foolproof security, but the situation is now satisfactory, and it is expected that the results will continue to come at rapid pace now,” he added.
A total of 265 seats were contested in Thursday’s election. Supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan had the edge on Friday in official and unofficial election results from over 100 seats.
