Thousands of users across Pakistan are still unable to access popular social media network X, formerly Twitter, as the government has yet to clarify the cause for the unexpected closure that began on Saturday.
While boasting one of the world’s largest internet user populations, Pakistan ranks poorly in terms of internet availability, and officials reportedly disrupt access to social media platforms on occasion.
Before the February 8 general elections, users were unable to access various social media sites, which officials blamed on an error. However, on election day, the internet was turned off to prevent terrorism, according to the caretaker government. Following the much-anticipated polling, there were several difficulties in accessing X.
Internet shutdowns violate constitutionally protected rights such as freedom of information (Article 19-A), freedom of speech (Article 19), and freedom of association (Article 17). The Islamabad High Court ruled in February 2018 that internet shutdowns violate fundamental human rights and the constitution.
When TV reached out to caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi via WhatsApp, he responded: “Please contact Minister Information Technology and Chairman PTA.” We also got no reaction from the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA).
Farieha Aziz, a digital rights activist and journalist, told Geo.tv that the X restriction remains in place despite the PTA and interim government’s failure to acknowledge it.
Instead, she claimed, there is diversion from all sides, while the “prime minister and the IT minister are using VPNs to post on X”.
