A nationwide disruption on social media platforms was experienced amid a virtual event organised by the PTI on Saturday, according to Internet monitor Netblocks.
“Confirmed: Live metrics show a nation-scale disruption to social media platforms across Pakistan, including X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube,” the internet tracking agency said at 7:12pm.
⚠️ Confirmed: Live metrics show a nation-scale disruption to social media platforms across #Pakistan, including X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube; the incident comes as persecuted opposition leader Imran Khan's political party, PTI, launches its second virtual gathering pic.twitter.com/lwl24Kv5td
— NetBlocks (@netblocks) January 20, 2024
It added that “the incident comes as persecuted opposition leader Imran Khan’s political party, PTI, launches its second virtual gathering.”
“We can confirm the nation-scale restriction of social media platforms across Pakistan,” said Netblocks Director Alp Toker.
He told that the outage was “remarkably systematic” and “consistent with previous restrictions imposed during PTI events”.
In an update posted at 9:59pm, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said: “The recent disruption in internet services was caused by a technical fault, which has been promptly rectified. Internet services have been fully restored nationwide.”
The recent disruption in internet services was caused by a technical fault, which has been promptly rectified. #Internet services have been fully restored nationwide.
— PTA (@PTAofficialpk) January 20, 2024
Responding to the tracking agency’s confirmation, the PTI said: “Shame on the caretakers that are causing damage to Pakistanis only.”
The party said its virtual event would begin at 8pm.
Users also reported experiencing difficulties accessing social media platforms across Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.
The PTI has urged the Supreme Court to take notice of the suspension of internet service and blockage of social media websites during the party’s fundraising telethon.
In a statement, the PTI spokesperson had alleged that 240 million people were deprived of their basic rights by the suspension, which also resulted in financial losses for the country.
Shame on the caretakers that are causing damage to Pakistanis only.
Our #PTIVirtualJalsa is ON and will start at 8PM InshAllah. LIVE on all our social media channels! https://t.co/QCt2qg1y23
— PTI (@PTIofficial) January 20, 2024
Telecom operators had also expressed concern over frequent internet outages “on political grounds”.
