“It’s incredibly frustrating,” says a social media user as disruptions continue. Across Pakistan, users are facing difficulties accessing platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook, as the government implements measures to curb the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) march to Islamabad.
Despite several hours passing, the exact cause of the outage remains unclear, and no official statement has been made, raising concerns about the timing of these disruptions.
The government had previously confirmed its intent to disrupt internet services in areas deemed high-risk for security, but no specific mention was made regarding social media platforms.
Real-Time Outage Tracking
According to Downdetector.com, a website that tracks outages of online services, users in Pakistan have been experiencing issues with several social media platforms, including WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook. The disruption, however, extends beyond just these platforms, with broader internet connectivity problems reported as well.
Shahjahan Khurram, an Islamabad-based journalist, commented on the worsening situation, noting that recent disruptions, such as the closure of X, reduced internet speeds, and the blocking of virtual private networks (VPNs), have made daily life increasingly challenging for Pakistanis. “Living without the internet and trying to continue work or studies has become incredibly difficult in today’s digital age,” he said.
Increased Government Controls
Farhad Jarral, another Islamabad resident, expressed frustration at the government’s recurring tactics to limit internet access during PTI protests in the capital. “It feels like they’re constantly coming up with new ways to restrict our access to the internet,” he said. “This time, not only were major social media platforms blocked, but even VPNs—typically a reliable workaround—were ineffective.”
In Karachi, 27-year-old Tallal Aazmi told Geo.tv, “The internet is so slow that I can’t even send media on WhatsApp. It’s really frustrating, and it slows everything down.”
Rabia, a Lahore resident, shared her concern about the ongoing restrictions, saying, “The government is curtailing our right to information and freedom of speech. It’s a violation of our rights, yet they themselves continue to use these platforms.”
Political Tensions in the Digital Space
State Minister for IT, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, recently commented on PTI’s protest plans, calling it a “Fitna Call” and underscoring the government’s stance against PTI’s actions. This reflects the growing political tension that is increasingly spilling over into the digital sphere, leaving ordinary citizens to bear the brunt of these battles.
PTI leader Imran Khan has called for supporters to gather at D-Chowk in Islamabad and remain there until their demands are met, suggesting that disruptions may continue.
In preparation for the PTI rally, the government, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has deployed tens of thousands of police and paramilitary forces in riot gear and blocked key highways leading to Islamabad, signaling that the standoff between the opposition and the government is far from over.
