Internet watchdog Netblox reported that social media platforms were disrupted across the country when PTI held a virtual fundraising telethon on Sunday.
“Live indicators indicate nation-wide disruption to social media platforms across Pakistan, including X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube,” the internet tracking agency announced at 6:13 p.m.
It added that the incident occurred as “persecuted former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s political party PTI launched a telethon to raise campaign funds.”
NetBlock Director Alp Toker said: AFP This disruption affected network providers across the country.
“Such national social media targeting of political activity is almost unprecedented on this scale. Venezuela is one of the countries that has taken similar measures to restrict opposition speech and gatherings. ” he said.
In a similar incident last month, internet outages were also reported during the PTI Virtual Power Show.
PTI had announced today that it will hold a virtual fundraising telethon and manifesto presentation at 9 pm.
However, around 6 p.m., users reported being unable to access the social media platform in several areas of the country. They also complained about slow internet service.
When asked for comment, a Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) spokesperson said: dawn.com All social media networks are active and authorities confirmed that they have not received any complaints.
“It’s totally embarrassing.”
Meanwhile, PTI’s Zulfi Bukhari said the internet shutdown was aimed at stopping the party from collecting funds.
The party itself called the internet shutdown “absolutely shameful” and called for the IT minister’s resignation “for the continued harm it causes to the people of Pakistan.”
“Another PTI online event. Another internet blackout,” party leader Taimur Saleem Khan Jhagra said.
According to a report by Surfshark, a virtual private network company headquartered in Lithuania, a six-month analysis of internet shutdowns based on the Internet Shutdown Tracker found that Pakistan was among three of the 42 new restrictions imposed around the world after Imran’s arrest. It has become clear that he is responsible. .
At the time, access to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube was restricted in the country. At the same time, temporary mobile network disruptions were also witnessed across the country over the next few days.
Surfshark’s report ranks Pakistan behind Iran and India as the country at the top of the list of regimes that have imposed internet restrictions in the first half of 2023, making Asia the epicenter of internet shutdowns.