A nationwide disruption of social media platforms was reported by the internet monitor Netblocks on Sunday as the PTI held a virtual fundraising telethon. Internet tracking agency, Netblocks, reported that there was a nation-scale disruption to social media platforms across Pakistan, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube at 6:13 pm. This incident came as the PTI launches its election fundraising telethon. Last month, internet outages were also reported during a PTI virtual power show. PTI had announced earlier that it would hold a virtual fundraising telethon and manifesto launch at 9 pm. However, around 6 pm, users reported being unable to access social media platforms in several areas of the country and complained about slow internet services. Despite this, a spokesperson alleged that all social media networks were active and the authority had not received any complaints.
PTI’s Zulfi Bukhari said the internet shutdown was aimed at stopping the party’s fundraiser. The party itself called the internet shutdown “absolutely shameful” and demanded that the IT minister resign “for this continuing damage to Pakistanis”. Party leader Taimur Saleem Khan Jhagra stated, “Another PTI online event. Another internet shutdown”.
According to a report by Surfshark, a virtual private network company, Pakistan was responsible for three of the 42 new restrictions worldwide, which were imposed following Imran’s arrest. At that time, access to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube was restricted in the country and several temporary cellular network disruptions were also witnessed across the country for several days afterwards. The Surfshark report ranked Pakistan behind Iran and India as the countries leading the list of regimes that imposed internet restrictions during the first half of 2023.