On August 15, the Balochistan High Court (BHC) directed the provincial government to reconsider its blanket suspension of mobile and internet services across the province, which had been imposed for security reasons.

A two-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Rozi Khan Barrech and Justice Sardar Ahmad Halimi, issued the directives while hearing a petition filed against the government’s shutdown orders.

The petition was moved by Khair Muhammad Shaheen, chairman of the Balochistan Consumer Civil Society, who challenged the legality of the suspension. The bench noted that the shutdown, imposed on August 6 and scheduled to last until August 31, could not be justified across the province when threats were confined to specific areas. The court instructed officials to restore services in all districts where no security threat exists.

During the hearing, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Muhammad Hamza Shafqat and Advocate General Adnan Basharat admitted that security concerns were limited to certain districts, not the entire province.

The case has been adjourned until August 21, with directions for authorities to submit formal replies.

Earlier, on August 13, the BHC admitted the petition and asked Attorney General of Pakistan Mansoor Awan and Balochistan Advocate General Adnan Basharat to file their responses by August 15.

Petitioner Shaheen argued that the suspension violated constitutional rights, including Article 9 (security of person), Article 15 (freedom of movement), Article 18 (freedom of trade and business), Article 19-A (right to information), and Article 25 (equality of citizens).