At 6:13 pm, a significant disruption hit Pakistan’s social media landscape, affecting platforms like X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, according to real-time metrics from an internet tracking agency. This disruption coincided with the kickoff of a fundraising telethon by Imran Khan’s political party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Alp Toker, Director of Netblocks, revealed that the network disruptions impacted various telecom service providers nationwide, highlighting a notable use of nation-scale social media targeting for political purposes. Similar measures have been seen in Venezuela to suppress oppositional activities.
This incident mirrors a previous disruption during a virtual power show organized by PTI last month. The PTI had scheduled a virtual fundraising telethon and manifesto launch for 9 pm, but as early as 6 pm, users across the country reported difficulties accessing social media, along with complaints of sluggish internet services.
While the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) claimed all social media networks remained operational, PTI representative Zulfi Bukhari insisted the internet shutdown aimed to hinder the party’s fundraising. PTI condemned the incident, calling for the resignation of the Minister of Information Technology.
Taimur Saleem Khan Jhagra, a PTI leader, expressed frustration, noting a recurring pattern: “Another PTI online event. Another internet shutdown.”
Surfshark’s analysis, a VPN company, revealed Pakistan accounted for three of the 42 new global restrictions on internet access in the six months following Imran Khan’s arrest. During this period, access to major social media platforms was restricted, with temporary disruptions in cellular networks nationwide.
The Surfshark report ranked Pakistan third globally in imposing internet restrictions during H1 2023, highlighting Asia as the epicenter of most internet shutdowns. The incident raises concerns about the state’s influence over digital freedom and access to information in Pakistan.
