Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has extended the suspension of internet services for an indefinite period after protests erupted across the country following the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan. The move has led to a massive outrage among citizens, who are calling out the PTA for denying them their right to access information.
Videos of violent protests were widely shared on social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, after following the arrest of the former Prime Minister Imran Khan. As a result, mobile broadband services were blocked, and social media sites were reportedly down since yesterday, causing problems for citizens.
Many users in Pakistan are now unable to access major social media sites, including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The PTA spokesperson said that the regulatory authority was also receiving reports of social media platforms being down.
PTI supporters held protests in many cities of Pakistan, including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Multan, Peshawar etc. In Karachi, protestors clashed with the police near Nursery. They threw stones at and burn police van, and damaged a public bus.
Protesters also caused damage to public property in other cities. The outage-tracking website, Downdetector.com, reported that users were unable to log in to their accounts on all three platforms, meaning they also couldn’t post or view anything.
The move to suspend internet services in Pakistan has sparked widespread criticism, with citizens and experts alike condemning the decision. Sameen Daud Khan, a researcher who worked on Pakistan’s Internet Landscape 2022 report, said that “with Pakistan already ranking among the world’s worst countries in terms of Internet access.
The move has also sparked concerns about the impact on businesses and the economy. Many businesses in Pakistan rely heavily on the internet, and the suspension of services has disrupted their operations.
The PTA’s decision to suspend internet services in Pakistan has been met with criticism from citizens, who are calling for the restoration of services. The move has also raised concerns about the impact on businesses and the economy. The authorities must take steps to ensure that the suspension of services is not extended any further, and citizens are not denied their right to access information.
