2 min read
A fierce debate erupted today in the Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom. The clash highlighted a growing power struggle between digital connectivity goals and national security protocols. Presided over by Chairperson Senator Palwasha Khan, the meeting focused heavily on the suspension of mobile services in District Lakki Marwat, KP. The session revealed the IT Ministry’s (MoITT) inability to override directives from the Interior Ministry, even when economic stakes are high.
Security Measures Backfiring?
Senator Atta-ur-Rehman led the charge with severe criticism of the current policy. He termed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s (PTA) report on the matter “unsatisfactory”.
Senator Rehman argued that suspending mobile signals under the guise of security is counterproductive. He stated that blackouts actually provide “further protection to terrorists” rather than stopping them. He posed a chilling question to the committee regarding personal safety:
If I am attacked in my district, how will I call or message anyone for help?
The MoITT Dilemma: Hands Tied
Federal Minister for IT and Telecom, Shaza Fatima, pushed back but admitted to a difficult reality. She acknowledged that service suspensions inevitably cause negative economic ripples. However, she was clear about where the final authority lies.
Minister Fatima revealed that the Ministry of Interior decides which areas require an internet shutdown based on security threats. Once those orders come through, the IT Ministry and PTA have no choice but to comply.
She stated frankly:
Our hands are tied before the orders of the Interior Ministry.
She assured the committee that her ministry strives to keep these suspensions to the absolute minimum.
Who Controls the Switch?
The discussion clarified the chain of command for digital blackouts in Pakistan. The Chairman of the PTA confirmed that policies regarding mobile service suspension come directly from the federal government.
Currently, the IT sector finds itself in a tough spot. While the Ministry aims to digitise Pakistan, security mandates continue to disrupt connectivity in sensitive zones like Lakki Marwat.
