Pakistan is currently witnessing a nationwide disruption in access to the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, for 24 hours as protests against alleged electoral irregularities intensified across the country. The timing of the social media blackout coincided with protests and demonstrations organized by various political parties, particularly the former ruling party PTI, amid accusations of election rigging.
X down in Pakistan, again!
The Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA), responsible for overseeing internet regulations, implemented the restriction on X during the weekend, although no official statement regarding the blockade has been issued. However, this action aligns with past patterns where social media access has been restricted during periods of political unrest, a move aimed at controlling the spread of dissenting voices and organizing protests.
NetBlocks’ official report:
⚠ Update: Metrics show that X/Twitter has now been restricted in #Pakistan for 24 hours, the latest and longest in a series of nation-scale internet censorship measures imposed by authorities as reports of election fraud emerge 📉 https://t.co/XAsM39sBb5 pic.twitter.com/ZKIhINj3Pc
— NetBlocks (@netblocks) February 18, 2024
Netblocks, a global internet monitoring organization, reported a nationwide disruption to X/Twitter services in Pakistan during the height of the unrest. The protests stemmed from allegations of election fraud following revelations by a senior election official regarding vote manipulation in multiple constituencies.
Also read: PTI, JUI-F Strongly Denounce February 8 Polls, Term It As “Massively Rigged”
The admission by the Commissioner of Rawalpindi regarding the alteration of election results further fueled public outrage and spurred additional protests by various political factions beyond the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
The social media blockade underscores the delicate balance between freedom of expression and government control, particularly in contexts of political upheaval. As Pakistan grapples with allegations of electoral misconduct and mounting public discontent, the restriction on social media platforms like X reflects the authorities’ efforts to manage dissent and maintain stability, albeit at the expense of digital rights and access to information.
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