Netblocks, an internet monitoring agency, reported a nationwide social media disruption in Pakistan on Saturday during a virtual event organized by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The incident was confirmed at 7:12 pm, revealing widespread issues on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Alp Toker, Director of Netblocks, noted the systematic nature of the outage, consistent with previous disruptions during PTI events.
The PTI responded, condemning those causing damage and stating their virtual event would proceed at 8 pm. Users in major cities, including Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, reported difficulties accessing social media around that time. This disruption paralleled a similar incident on January 7 during a PTI fundraising telethon.
Despite user complaints, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) claimed all social media networks were active and no complaints had been received. The PTI, however, urged the Supreme Court to address the suspension of internet services during their events.
The PTI’s spokesperson alleged that the suspensions deprived 240 million people of their basic rights, resulting in financial losses. Telecom operators expressed concern over frequent internet outages with political motives.
The interim Information Minister, Murtaza Solangi, dismissed the issue as technical, advising reporters to consult the PTA for details. Activist Jibran Nasir criticized the frequent nationwide internet disruptions, labeling them as violations of constitutional articles and indicative of a disregard for freedoms, the constitution, and the economy.
Digital rights activist Usama Khilji questioned the legality and official policy behind the social media blockages. He urged the interim IT minister and the PTA to clarify the situation, emphasizing the potential impact on the digital economy. This marked the third nationwide internet disruption in just over a month, prompting concerns about the interference with citizens’ rights and the broader implications for the country.
