Following political protests and the arrest of the country’s former prime minister, Pakistan has imposed ongoing restrictions on internet access.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) intentionally cut off mobile internet services, and major social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter have become inaccessible across the country. Reports indicate that internet blackouts have also been implemented in certain regions of Pakistan.
The internet restrictions coincide with mass protests in Islamabad and Lahore, where supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan have taken to the streets.
The PTA likely implemented the internet shutdown to prevent the spread of videos and recordings of the protests. Khan, a former cricket player, served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022 and is currently facing corruption charges.
Human rights organizations such as NetBlocks and Amnesty International have condemned the internet shutdowns, emphasizing the impact on freedom of expression and access to information.
This is not the first time Pakistan has implemented such restrictions, with previous instances including banning Wikipedia in 2019 and several internet shutdowns in 2018.
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