The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) says it is restoring the internet services across Pakistan.
The PTA had suspended the mobile broadband services across Pakistan hours after violent protests erupted against the arrest of former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan on May 9. The May 9 decision was taken on the directions of the Interior Ministry.
As violent protests started spreading in Pakistan, the PTA, which regulates the telecom sector in Pakistan, also blocked social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.
According to the PTA spokesperson, the Interior Ministry has ordered restoration of the internet services, but the ministry has not issued any instructions for restoration of the social media platforms.
The internet suspension has caused a revenue loss of almost Rs820 million to telecom operators.
The decision to restore the internet came a day after the Supreme Court declared Imran Khan’s arrest by the Rangers on the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) “unlawful” and directed the authorities to release him “immediately”.
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The top court told the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman to approach the IHC for bail. Subsequently, Khan appeared in the IHC on Friday and the court granted him protective bail for two weeks in the Al-Qadir Trust case. Also, the IHC barred the authorities from arresting Khan in any other case till May 15.