Palak Listens to His Own Statement on Internet Shutdown While Standing in the Dock

Former State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology Junaid Ahmed Palak stood in the dock of a tribunal on Sunday and listened as prosecutors read out his own previous public statement regarding the nationwide internet shutdown.

During the hearing, the prosecution presented Palak’s earlier remarks in which he claimed that the internet services were not deliberately shut down by the government but were disrupted due to technical reasons. The statement, which had been made to the media at the time of the shutdown, was read aloud in court as part of the evidence.

The tribunal also heard recorded conversations related to the suspension of internet and social media services. These recordings reportedly included discussions between Palak and other senior figures on the handling of internet connectivity during a period of widespread unrest in the country.

The case is linked to the nationwide internet blackout imposed during mass protests in July and August 2024. At that time, mobile internet services were suspended across the country, followed by restrictions on broadband connections and social media platforms. The shutdown drew criticism from civil society, rights groups, businesses, and international observers due to its social and economic impact.

Investigations later found that the shutdown was carried out through administrative directives rather than accidental technical failures. The prosecution claims that misleading information was provided to the public regarding the reasons for the disruption.

The tribunal has accepted the charges in the case and issued arrest warrants against the accused. The court has scheduled the next hearing for a later date, during which further evidence and testimonies are expected to be presented.

The proceedings mark a significant development in efforts to determine accountability for decisions taken during the internet blackout, one of the most extensive communication shutdowns in the country’s recent history.