Social media disruptions continued across various regions for the fourth consecutive day, leaving officials non-committal about the circumstances. Criticism has arisen from rights organizations and the media, with internet providers reporting financial losses. The blockage began Saturday following accusations by Liaquat Chattha against top officials for election rigging. While the platform sporadically reappeared in some cities, major areas like Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi experienced continued outages.
NetBlocks’ Alp Toker noted a partial restoration for certain users, though the situation remains unresolved. NetBlocks also highlighted the platform’s intermittent accessibility on some ISPs, marking this as an extended period of internet censorship in Pakistan. Attempts to get comments from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority were unsuccessful.
Digital rights advocate Usama Khilji pointed out the block’s impact on public protests and criticized the government for its lack of openness. Michael Kugelman from the Wilson Center observed that the government’s actions have amplified the victimization narrative of political parties, drawing international attention and increasing public frustration.
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has demanded the immediate reinstatement of internet and social media services, emphasizing their role as crucial information sources and highlighting the economic and informational setbacks caused by the disruption. Despite significant losses and concerns raised by the business and tech sectors, political parties and industry stakeholders have remained largely silent on the issue. A senior ISP executive warned of the broader implications, including reputational damage and potential disinterest from international investors and tech companies.
