Nationwide Internet Outages Affect WhatsApp, Instagram Amid PTI Protest Measures
Social media users across Pakistan are facing significant access issues as the government implements measures to limit Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) protest convoys heading to Islamabad.
While the exact cause of the disruptions remains unclear hours after the outage began, speculation is rising due to the lack of an official statement.
Although authorities have mentioned plans to restrict internet access in high-risk security areas, they have not clarified whether these measures apply to social media platforms.
Downdetector.com, which tracks real-time website and platform outages, confirmed that users across Pakistan are experiencing disruptions with WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and other services. The impact, however, isn’t limited to social media platforms, as general internet connectivity is also affected.
Shahjahan Khurram, an Islamabad-based journalist, criticized the ongoing internet disruptions, including the blocking of X (formerly Twitter), slow internet speeds, and the banning of virtual private networks (VPNs), noting the difficulty Pakistanis face when trying to carry out daily tasks without internet access.
Farhad Jarral, an Islamabad resident, remarked that the government seems to have “unveiled a new level of innovation” in restricting internet access whenever PTI stages a protest. He pointed out that, this time, not only were social media platforms blocked, but VPNs were also rendered ineffective.
In Karachi, 27-year-old Tallal Aazmi expressed his frustration, saying, “The internet is so slow right now, I can’t even share media on WhatsApp. It’s super frustrating and slows everything down.”
Rabia, a Lahore resident, criticized the government for curbing citizens’ right to information and freedom of speech, calling it a violation of rights. She added, “The irony is that they themselves are using these platforms.”
Shaza Fatima Khawaja, the State Minister for IT, tweeted in response to PTI’s protest, calling it a “Fitna Call” while reinforcing the government’s narrative against PTI’s actions, highlighting the increasing role of political rivalry in the digital realm.
With PTI founder Imran Khan urging supporters to gather at D-Chowk in the capital and remain there until their demands are addressed, it is likely that the internet disruptions will continue.
In preparation for PTI’s protest, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government has deployed tens of thousands of police and paramilitary forces in riot gear and blocked major highways leading to Islamabad.
