ISLAMABAD: Internet monitors – Netblocks and Downdetector on Saturday reported a nationwide disruption to social media platforms, coinciding with a virtual event of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
The users across the country also complained about the disruption of social media platforms – X/facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
“Confirmed: Live metrics show a nation-scale disruption to social media platforms across Pakistan, including X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube,” the internet tracking agency said at 7:12pm.
It added that “the incident comes as persecuted opposition leader Imran Khan’s political party, PTI, launches its second virtual gathering.”
Responding to the tracking agency’s confirmation, the PTI said: “Shame on the caretakers that are causing damage to Pakistanis only.”
Shame on the caretakers that are causing damage to Pakistanis only.
Our #PTIVirtualJalsa is ON and will start at 8PM InshAllah. LIVE on all our social media channels! https://t.co/QCt2qg1y23
— PTI (@PTIofficial) January 20, 2024
The party said its virtual event would begin at 8pm.
Similarly, Downdetector – an internet monitoring service, the platforms, especially the website versions have been down shortly after 6pm local time.
Users in major cities such as Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad complained about their inability to connect to social media sites including X — formerly known as Twitter — Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and streaming giant YouTube.
Additionally, complaints regarding sluggish internet services surfaced among the affected users.
‘Technical fault resolved, internet services restored’
Later, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Saturday said that the technical fault causing the recent disruption in internet services has been successfully resolved.
The recent disruption in internet services was caused by a technical fault, which has been promptly rectified. #Internet services have been fully restored nationwide.
— PTA (@PTAofficialpk) January 20, 2024
In an official statement on its social media account, the PTA said, “The recent disruption in internet services, caused by a technical fault, has now been promptly addressed. Internet services have been completely restored across the country.”
A similar disruption occurred on January 7 as the PTI held a virtual fundraising telethon.
The PTI has urged the Supreme Court to take notice of the suspension of internet service and blockage of social media websites during the party’s fundraising telethon.
In a statement, the PTI spokesperson had alleged that 240 million people were deprived of their basic rights by the suspension, which also resulted in financial losses for the country.
