New Delhi: Pakistan reported nationwide disruption of social media platforms and widespread internet outage on Sunday, Dawn reported. The internet outage came at a time when former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party was scheduled to launch its fundraising campaign for the upcoming general elections.
Global internet observatory NetBlocks also confirmed the social media platform’s disruptions. “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 former PM Imran Khan‘s party, PTI, launches its election fundraising telethon,” NetBlocks said.
⚠️ 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 former PM Imran Khan’s party, PTI, launches its election fundraising telethon pic.twitter.com/QIBGcxGty3
— NetBlocks (@netblocks) January 7, 2024
According to reports, the PTI had earlier announced to hold a virtual fundraising campaign and manifesto launch at 9pm. However, around 6pm, internet users in several areas of the country complained that they were not able to access the social media platforms. They also complained about internet services being slow. They said that they were unable to access social media platforms, including X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and streaming giant YouTube.
Later speaking to Dawn, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) spokesperson Zaib Unissa said that the internet services had been “completely restored” in the country. He also said that the social media platforms were active and the authority did not receive any such complaints on internet outage.
Meanwhile, PTI’s Zulfi Bukhari said the internet shutdown was aimed at stopping the party’s fundraiser campaign.
Internet shut down completely to stop the fundraiser ! #PTIFundraisingTelethon pic.twitter.com/2ei0NM5GTY
— Sayed Z Bukhari (@sayedzbukhari) January 7, 2024
The party, too, called the internet outage “absolutely shameful” and demanded that the IT Minister resign “for this continuing damage to Pakistanis”.
Absolutely shameful! Caretaker IT Minister should resign for this continuing damage to Pakistanis https://t.co/W9pyXzRr6A
— PTI (@PTIofficial) January 7, 2024
“Another PTI online event. Another internet shutdown,” wrote Taimur Saleem Khan Jhagra on X.
