In Pakistan, social media platform X, formerly Twitter, faces prolonged inaccessibility amid allegations of election fraud and government denial, sparking concerns about freedom of speech and digital rights. (AFP Photo)
Islamabad, Pakistan: Social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, remains inaccessible to users in Pakistan following reported outages on Saturday, as confirmed by NetBlocks, an organization monitoring internet accessibility issues. The disruption, characterized as a “national-scale disruption,” coincided with widespread protests in the country stemming from alleged vote rigging in general elections.
Government officials, including Gohar Ejaz, the caretaker minister for interior, and Murtaza Solangi, caretaker minister for information, denied awareness of any restrictions. Ejaz stated, “No knowledge. It doesn’t come under the interior [ministry].” The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), when questioned about the closure, emphasized its role as a regulatory body enforcing government orders.
While a significant number of users experienced difficulty accessing their X accounts since Saturday, Umar Saif, the caretaker minister for information technology, managed to post a message on his account on Monday afternoon without addressing queries about the platform’s closure.
Pakistan has encountered recurrent internet accessibility issues in recent weeks, often coinciding with virtual events organized by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Instances of social media platform restrictions occurred during protests following allegations of election manipulation and during the delayed release of election results.
The PTI-backed candidates secured 93 seats, with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) at 75 and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) at 54 seats. However, PTI claimed a “clear mandate” was stolen, leading to nationwide protests.
The most recent restriction on X occurred when a senior government official, Liaquat Ali Chattha, “confessed” his involvement in alleged election manipulation. Videos of Chattha circulated on social media platforms, including X, where he admitted electoral fraud and implicated the country’s top judge and the chief of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Digital rights advocate Farieha Aziz criticized the repeated internet restrictions, stating they depict Pakistan as an “unstable political environment and uncertain digital market.” She placed responsibility on the PTA, emphasizing the lack of rule of law.
Bytes for All, an internet rights group in Pakistan, recorded at least 15 internet shutdowns in 2023, including a weeklong blackout following Imran Khan’s arrest.
Users accessing X through virtual private networks (VPNs) expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s decision. A user lamented, “While in Pakistan we are still using VPN [because] Govt blocks social media. How long Pakistan will suffer like this?”
Senior PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan denounced the blocking as “wrong” and called for the government to explain its position, citing constitutional rights to access information and freedom of speech.
Farieha Aziz highlighted the significance of X, noting its role as a political battleground for global voices, including heads of state, governments, political parties, and media. She emphasized the platform’s importance in addressing irregularities, stating, “This is the battleground right now for candidates and parties to get their voice out globally.”
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