The social media platform remains inaccessible to users in Pakistan since Saturday amidst protests against alleged vote manipulation.

Affected X in Pakistan

The social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, remains inaccessible to users in Pakistan following reports of internet outages reported by internet watchdog groups starting on Saturday.

NetBlocks, an organization that monitors internet accessibility, confirmed on February 17th that a "national-scale disruption" has affected X in Pakistan. This disruption coincides with widespread protests in the country triggered by allegations of vote rigging in the general elections.

Government officials, however, have declined to acknowledge any such restrictions.

Gohar Ejaz, the caretaker minister for interior, stated us via WhatsApp that he was not aware of any such restrictions, asserting that it does not fall under the jurisdiction of the interior ministry.

Murtaza Solangi, the caretaker minister for information, also did not respond to inquiries regarding the inaccessibility of the platform.

Officials at the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the state regulatory body, did not respond to multiple inquiries about the closure but indicated that the PTA is solely a regulatory body that enforces orders issued by the government.

while a significant number of druggies remain unfit to pierce their X accounts since Saturday, Umar Saif, the caretaker minister for information technology, was suitable to post a communication on his account on Monday afternoon. The continued inaccessibility of the social media platform X in Pakistan has raised concerns, especially amidst reports of repeated internet outages and restrictions on various social media platforms. These disruptions often align with events involving the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, prompting allegations of political interference. During the general elections on February 8, mobile services were shut down citing security concerns, and delays in announcing election results further fueled suspicions, particularly from the PTI. Despite PTI-backed candidates securing a significant number of seats, the party alleged electoral irregularities and organized nationwide protests. The recent restriction on X coincided with a senior government official's confession of involvement in electoral manipulation. This confession, circulated on social media platforms including X, implicated top judicial and electoral authorities. While the implicated officials denied the charges, concerns about political instability and digital rights violations persist. Digital rights advocates like Farieha Aziz criticize the government's repeated internet restrictions, attributing responsibility to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). These restrictions not only hinder access to information but also reflect poorly on Pakistan's political environment and digital market. Users expressing frustration over the restrictions, with some resorting to VPNs to bypass them, highlight the importance of access to social media platforms for free expression and information dissemination. Senior PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan condemned the blocking, emphasizing the constitutional rights of citizens and political workers. Aziz underscores the political significance of X, both domestically and globally, as a platform for political discourse and raising concerns about electoral integrity. However, ongoing restrictions undermine its role as a forum for global dialogue and scrutiny of political processes.