Pakistan – Social media platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and others are experiencing widespread disruptions across the country as the government intensifies measures to block Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) march towards Islamabad. Users from various parts of Pakistan have reported difficulties in accessing these platforms, sparking frustration among the public.
Although the issue has persisted for hours, the cause of the outage remains unclear, with no official statement addressing the situation. This lack of communication has raised concerns about the timing of the disruptions, coinciding with the government’s efforts to control the PTI’s protest movement.
The government had previously confirmed plans to disrupt internet services in areas deemed security-sensitive, but there was no official comment on the blockage of social media platforms. According to Downdetector, a real-time tracking service for outages, users have faced issues not only on social media platforms but also with general internet connectivity.
Journalists and citizens across the country have shared their struggles. Shahjahan Khurram, an Islamabad-based journalist, expressed how the recent disruptions — including the blocking of X (formerly Twitter) and the throttling of internet speeds — have made daily life increasingly difficult. “Living without the internet today, whether for work or education, has become nearly impossible,” Khurram noted.
In Islamabad, Farhad Jarral pointed out the government’s increasing “innovation” in restricting access to the internet whenever PTI plans a protest in the capital. He noted that in addition to blocking major social media platforms, even virtual private networks (VPNs), which are usually used to bypass such restrictions, have been rendered ineffective.
In Karachi, 27-year-old Tallal Aazmi complained about the slow internet speeds, stating, “I can’t even share media on WhatsApp right now. It’s incredibly frustrating and slows everything down.” Similarly, Rabia, a resident of Lahore, criticized the government’s actions, calling it a violation of citizens’ rights to information and freedom of speech. “The government needs to realize that these shutdowns not only affect the public but also make us a laughing stock on the international stage,” she added.
Shaza Fatima Khawaja, the State Minister for IT, responded to PTI’s protest call by posting on X, labeling it a “Fitna Call” and reiterating the government’s stance against the opposition’s mobilization efforts. This highlights the increasing trend of political conflicts spilling over into the digital domain, leaving ordinary citizens trapped in the crossfire.
PTI leader Imran Khan has called for his supporters to assemble at D-Chowk in Islamabad and remain there until their demands are met, suggesting that the disruptions may continue. Meanwhile, the government has deployed tens of thousands of police and paramilitary forces, prepared for possible unrest during the planned protest.
