Pakistan experienced widespread internet disruptions as netizens faced trouble accessing social media, according to a report by Dawn that referenced findings from the Internet monitor Netblocks.
The connectivity issues coincided with a planned online rally by the political party of ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan, PTI, which was set to begin at 9 pm.
Netblocks identified a significant disruption affecting platforms such as
Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube nationwide. The blackout occurred just before PTI's event. Reports emerged of users in major cities like Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad struggling with social media access and sluggish internet from around 8 pm.
PTI criticized the interference, suggesting it was intentional due to Khan's growing popularity: "The illegitimate regime has deliberately reduced internet speed & blocked social media countrywide before PTI's historic Virtual Jalsa!"
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) did not immediately comment on the situation. This incident follows a May 9 disruption, verified by PTA, which halted mobile internet during protests triggered by Khan's arrest. At that time, Twitter,
Facebook, and YouTube faced restrictions.
Comparatively, in the first half of 2023, Pakistan ranked third globally for internet clampdowns, detailed by a Surfshark report. The report highlighted Pakistan's role in imposing three out of 42 new global internet restrictions following Khan's detainment, with sporadic mobile network outages observed thereafter.