Social media ‘off’ in Pakistan amid election tension – 2024-02-11 16:50:30

There are allegations of shutdown of internet and telecommunication services in Pakistan on election day. This time, problems have arisen in the announcement of the results in the use of social media. Xer (formerly Twitter) users from across Pakistan reported the problem on Saturday (February 10), global internet service monitor NetBlocks said.

Polling for elections in Pakistan ended more than 48 hours ago. Result declaration is not over yet. In the meantime, the news of disruption in the use of social media in the country came to the fore.

Read more>> Internet disconnected amid polling in Pakistan

NetBlocks said the incident occurred amid political unrest in Pakistan following a ‘controversial’ election held amid internet and mobile network blackouts.

This is absolutely shameful. After closing mobile services in Pakistan during election day, they have no blocked X in Pakistan because PTI was exposing the rigging!! #Respect public opinion

— PTI (@PTIofficial) February 10, 2024

Earlier, internet and mobile phone services were suspended across Pakistan last Thursday on polling day. Authorities said the move was taken to ‘maintain law and order’ in the wake of the violence that had erupted a day earlier.

Read more>> What the US-UK-EU said about Pakistan’s election

However, Amnesty International strongly condemned the decision to stop internet-mobile phone services in the South Asian country. The International Human Rights Organization described it as a ‘reckless attack on people’s rights’.

Meanwhile, Imran Khan’s party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) strongly condemned the disruption of social media platform X usage. They said in a post on X, it’s a shame. After shutting down mobile services on election day, this time they have blocked X across Pakistan. Because, PTI was revealing the election rigging!

Source: The Express Tribune
KAA/