Pakistan: Social media platforms face disruption ahead of virtual gathering of Imran Khan's supporters
Social media disruption in Pakistan
Pakistan has shut down access to Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube ahead of "virtual jalsa" by supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Users across Pakistan reported finding it difficult to access social media platforms in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad since 8 pm (local time).
Users also complained about internet services being slow.
"Live metrics show a nation-scale disruption to social media platforms across #Pakistan, including X, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube," the internet tracking agency Netblocks wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) did not respond to the widespread complaints, which indicated the stifling of the political expression of individuals owing allegiance to former Prime Minister Imran Khan, and his Pakistan-Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
Pakistanilawyer and human rights activist Jibran Nasir said: "They actually messed with the internet affecting millions of subscribers and hundreds of thousands of businesses only to oppose PTI virtual rally. This is beyond madness."
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Since August 2023, Imran Khan has remained jailed following a conviction in a corruption case. Earlier this week,a special court once again indicted former prime minister as well asex-foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cypher case for allegedly leaking state secrets and violating the laws of the country.
Besides, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has prohibited the registration of new voters, as well as the deletion, revision, and correction of votes on electoral rolls, ARY News reported on Sunday.
(With inputs from agencies)