The Pakistani government has suspended mobile and internet services in Islamabad and Rawalpindi ahead of a planned protest by the far-right group Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), citing security concerns.
According to reports, the Ministry of Interior directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to suspend services from midnight on Friday for an indefinite period. The decision, approved by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, comes hours before the TLP’s announced “Labbaik Ya Aqsa Million March,” which the party says is being held in solidarity with Palestinians.
The move was formalized through an official notification issued by the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control on October 9, 2025, directing the PTA to suspend all 3G and 4G mobile services in Islamabad and Rawalpindi “from 12 a.m. tonight till further orders.” The letter, signed by Section Officer (Security-I) Syed Hammad Hassan, instructed PTA to coordinate with the Commissioner and IGP offices of Islamabad Capital Territory and Rawalpindi to enforce the suspension.
The Punjab government has also imposed Section 144 across the province, banning all public gatherings, rallies, and protests for ten days. The order is in effect in Lahore, where authorities have prohibited gatherings of four or more people in public spaces.
In Islamabad and Rawalpindi, metro bus services have been suspended, and major entry and exit routes have been barricaded. The Red Zone has been completely sealed, with access limited only to authorized personnel. Law enforcement agencies remain on high alert as the capital braces for the protest.
Clashes in Lahore
On Thursday, violent clashes broke out between police and TLP supporters in Lahore after a police raid at the party’s headquarters in Yateem Khana to arrest its leader, Saad Rizvi.
At least five police officers and more than a dozen TLP workers were injured, according to local reports. The TLP claimed one of its supporters was killed. Police officials said the Punjab government was considering deploying the paramilitary Rangers to prevent further violence.
The indefinite suspension in Islamabad and Rawalpindi will likely affect journalists, emergency services, and citizens relying on mobile internet for daily communication. Past shutdowns in Pakistan have been widely condemned by rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, as “disproportionate” and a violation of the right to information.
