Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The political administration of Mohmand tribal region of Federally Administered Tribal Areas failed to restore the mobile services in the area, resulting in a protest demonstration held by the local masses in Islamabad.

It should be mentioned that mobile services were suspended a year ago in Mohmand Agency due to security concerns but have still not been restored by the government.

A mediaperson informed Daily Times that journalistic work suffered immensely due to the mobile network suspension. “We can’t contact people as mobile and 3G services are suspended but our media organisations force us to work despite of that,” he said.

“As the general elections are also approaching, so we ask from political masses in the Agency to address the major hurdles during election campaign,” Pakistan People’s Party’s Dr Farooq Afzal said.

“The problems are not only for the election campaigning but thousands of other people as well who are living in the Middle East and are disconnected from their families. Most of their families travel to Shabqadar which is some 50 kilometres away from the Agency, only to manage a call to their beloveds who live abroad,” he said.

“The suspension of mobile and Internet service seems unjust as the election campaign is in progress and we are unable to mobilise masses in the area,” Dr Farooq Afzal added,

Local residents arranged various demonstrations for the mobile service restoration but no serious action was taken. Tribal elders warned that if mobile services not restored, they will take the demonstration towards the capital.

Various political administrators were contacted on this regard, but no response has been received from them.

Published in Daily Times, March 18^th 2018.