Internet Blackout Hits Balochistan Again: Activists Call It a Basic Human Rights Violation
People in Balochistan are dealing with yet another internet shutdown, the third one in just a month. This time, mobile data services like 3G and 4G went dark from 5 p.m. on September 5 until 9 p.m. on September 6. Pakistani authorities blamed it on the "law and order situation" and religious processions, but rights groups are furious, saying these blanket internet shutdowns in Balochistan strip away basic human rights.
Amnesty International slammed the decision hard. They pointed out that shutting down mobile internet— which is the main way many folks in the province stay connected— seriously limits the right to information, freedom of expression, movement, and peaceful assembly. "These frequent blackouts are a tool to suppress protests and speech," the group said in a statement.
Yusra, a brave activist and political organizer from Balochistan, shared her story with Amnesty International. She explained how these internet blackouts in Balochistan mess up everything from daily life to important events. "We’ve come to expect them now," Yusra said. "Even for small meetings in different towns, the internet gets cut as soon as we arrive. They claim it’s for security, but whose security? We can’t even contact our families or access news like everyone else."
Yusra highlighted the real motive behind these internet shutdowns in Balochistan: to block information from spreading to the rest of Pakistan and the world. She recalled an online seminar they planned a few months ago about human rights issues in the province. Just two hours before it started, authorities shut down the internet in Quetta, the capital city, forcing them to cancel. "Our lives depend on the internet today," she added. "Think about a woman running a home-based food business in Quetta— she can’t take orders or manage deliveries. Or students rushing to submit online assignments; they miss deadlines because of this."
This isn’t the first time. Back on August 6, Pakistani authorities imposed a major internet blackout in Balochistan, cutting off over 14 million people from their primary connection to the digital world, again citing security threats. It affected daily routines and common protests in the province. Fifteen days later, the Balochistan High Court stepped in and ordered the government to restore mobile internet services. But that didn’t last— authorities announced another shutdown on August 30, right when activists planned protests for the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearance.
Yusra stressed that access to the internet is a basic human right, especially in a long-neglected region like Balochistan. She called for an end to the broader crackdown on human rights there. "If the government insists on these shutdowns for security reasons, they need to prove they’re effective and fair," she said. "They can’t just disrupt our everyday lives without thinking about the impact."
As Balochistan faces repeated internet blackouts, activists and groups like Amnesty International urge Pakistani authorities to find better ways to handle security without violating freedoms. Will the government listen and restore reliable access soon? Stay tuned for updates on this ongoing human rights issue in Pakistan.
