Pakistan: Mobile phone and internet services began returning to Mirpur and surrounding areas in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Thursday after a 45-day suspension, as the region prepares for its upcoming legislative elections.
Why Were Services Restored?
Connectivity had remained suspended across Mirpur for more than six weeks, disrupting communication, businesses, and daily activities.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari confirmed the restoration in a post on X, saying he had received information that internet and digital connectivity in Mirpur would be restored soon.
Bilawal thanked the AJK PPP and the Election Commission of Azad Jammu and Kashmir for their efforts, expressing hope that mobile and internet services would also be restored in Muzaffarabad and other parts of the region.
During the election campaign, Bilawal had repeatedly called for the restoration of communication services, saying prolonged disruptions were affecting ordinary citizens.
Why Were Services Suspended?
The restoration comes ahead of the AJK Legislative Assembly elections, which Chief Election Commissioner Ghulam Mustafa Mughal announced will be held in three phases.
According to the election schedule, Mirpur Division will vote on July 27, followed by Muzaffarabad Division on August 2 and Poonch Division on August 10.
Mobile and internet services were suspended last month after protests by the banned Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) over the demand to abolish 12 refugee seats in the AJK Assembly turned violent.
The AJK government subsequently declared the JAAC a proscribed organization under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), days before the group had planned another protest on June 9.
Authorities have not yet announced a timeline for restoring mobile and internet services in the remaining affected areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.