Mobile phone and internet services resumed in Mirpur city and surrounding areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Thursday, ending a 45-day communications blackout that had disrupted residents, businesses and routine activity across the district.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari confirmed the restoration in a post on X, stating he had received word that connectivity would be restored in Mirpur soon.
He credited the AJK PPP and the AJK Election Commission for their role in the intervention, and said he hoped similar requests for restoring services in Muzaffarabad and other areas would be accepted without delay.
Bilawal had pushed repeatedly for the restoration of internet and cellular services in the region throughout the election campaign. Addressing party workers in Mirpur on Wednesday, he said both the protesters and the state were punishing ordinary citizens through the prolonged suspension.
The restoration comes days before AJK heads into a three-phase election, announced by Chief Election Commissioner Ghulam Mustafa Mughal on July 21. Voting will begin in Mirpur Division on July 27, followed by Muzaffarabad Division on August 2 and Poonch Division on August 10.
Internet and mobile services in the region had been suspended last month following violent protests led by the banned Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which was demanding the abolition of 12 AJK Assembly seats reserved for refugees.
