According to local TV channels, a letter sent to the provincial election commissioners of Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan by ECP Deputy Director Syed A. Rahman Zafar said the decision blocking the social media sites on ECP networks will help minimise the threat of cyber attacks and prevent employees from wasting time during office hours.
"...the Competent Authority has directed to block social media websites (i.e. Youtube, Facebook, Twitter etc.) on all networks of ECP secretariat as well as PEC offices including field offices with immediate effect," reads the letter.
The election commissioners have been directed to ensure the blockage of social media and streaming sites immediately through the cooperation of provincial general managers of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited and National Telecommunication Corporation.
–Hamza Khan contributed