MUZAFFARABAD: Just days before the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) electio­­ns, internet services began returning to the southern Mirpur division on Thursday after a 48-day shutd­own that had disrupted education, businesses and electioneering.

The services were suspended across AJK on the evening of June 5 ahead of a planned long march by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which had been proscribed by the AJK government hours earlier.

The prolonged shutdown disru­pted education, businesses and government services, particularly af­­fe­cting students, freelancers and on­­li­­­ne businesses.

The issue gained political attention after PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari repeatedly criticised the prolonged suspension during his election campaign.

Services suspended in AJK on June 5 before planned long march by proscribed JAAC

Addressing a rally in Mirpur on Wednesday, he questioned why int­­­ernet services remained bloc­ked when protesters in Rawalakot were still able to upload videos online.

The same day, PPP AJK president Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin wrote to the AJK chief election commissioner, urging him to take up the issue with the authorities, arguing that the prolonged shutdown was adversely affecting electioneering and voters’ access to information ahead of the polls.

At around 5pm on Thu­rsday, Bhutto-Zardari announced on X that internet services were being restored in Mirpur.

Soon afterwards, cellular companies and internet service providers beg­an restoring services in parts of Mirpur division.

Mirpur resident Chaudhry Khalid told Dawn that cellular data services began returning between 5:30pm and 7pm, while fixed-line internet services started being restored around 8pm.

However, PML-N candidate from Mirpur Chau­d­hry Muham­mad Saeed claimed the decision to restore internet services had been made following intervention by his party’s leadership.

“Last night, I urged Mian Nawaz Sharif sahib to personally intervene for the immediate restoration of internet services, and his team informed me that the service wou­ld be restored today,” he told Dawn.

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz are scheduled to address an election rally in Mirpur on Friday (today).

Residents in Afzalpur, Chakswari, Islamgarh, Mangla Hamlet, Dadyal and Jatlan also confirmed the restoration of internet services, though they complained that speeds remained slow.

Services had also been restored across Kotli and Bhimber districts.

In Muzaffarabad and adjoining districts, where internet services remained suspended, residents continued contacting service providers in the hope of learning when connectivity would be restored.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2026