KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: Tuesday saw widespread disruptions on the social media platform X for the fourth day in a row, and officials are still hesitant to provide any updates on the situation.
Internet service suppliers have also bemoaned losses as a result of outages, while human rights organizations and organizations representing journalists have denounced the suppression of social media.
Since former Rajasthan commissioner Liaquat Chattha accusing the chief election commissioner and chief judge of meddling in the general election rigging on February 8 at a news conference on Saturday, the site has not been available.
In certain places, the site was still occasionally accessible, although reports from Karachi, Islamabad, and Lahore indicated that there may have been disruptions on Tuesday.
NetBlocks head Alp Toker told Dawn that the most recent measurements indicated that while restrictions were still in place in some locations, access had been “partially or intermittently enabled for some users.”
Mr. Toker, whose organization tracks internet outages globally, stated, “It’s unclear whether it’s an intermittent disruption or whether it represents an overall recovery in using X/Twitter, and the situation is still classified as ongoing.”
Access to X has been “intermittently restored” on some ISPs, according to a message on X by NetBlocks.
“Data shows that many users in Pakistan are still unable to access X/Twitter after the 72-hour mark; this is the longest-lasting internet censorship measure observed during the election period,” the statement continued.
Digital rights activist Usama Khilji told AFP said the social networking site has been down because people are using it for protests.
The @PTAofficialpk is failing at its job which it’s supposed to do with public funds from Pakistani citizens – no transparency, no notice, no statement, only uncertainty; complete flouting of law & constitution. #TwitterDown pic.twitter.com/TwdmpPHPFp
— Usama Khilji (@UsamaKhilji) February 20, 2024
Mr. Khilji criticized the government for its “utter lack of transparency” in an interview with Geo News.
“People cannot obtain data with integrity or instantaneous information, that is the describing nature of [X],” he said. “There is no notice, no publication, and no guarantee around when the restriction will be canceled, which results in a lot of confusion and a climate of disinformation.”
The government’s move, according to Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C., has enhanced “PTI’s victimization narrative.”
“[It] increases awareness of the party, its situation, and the government’s activities against it on a global scale. Additionally, it makes more people angry overall—not just PTI supporters.
PFUJ denounces interference
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) vehemently denounced the suspension of social media and the internet in Pakistan in a statement on Tuesday and called for the prompt restoration of X.
The message expressed regret for the ongoing internet outages and X’s suspension over the past few days.
Web pages and social media are now the world’s main information sources, according to PFUJ President Afzal Butt as well as Secretary General Arshad Ansari. They stated that disruptions to these platforms pose a severe threat to the constitutionally protected rights to free speech and expression.
They urged, “We emphasize the need for immediate recovery and availability of seamless internet in the nation.”
The PFUJ leadership emphasized the value of digital platforms and the internet, but they also claimed that these practices were impeding economic activity and depriving people access to critical information in the midst of the current chaotic situation.
“Due to the unintentional interruption of social media and the internet, the business community, investors, and young people involved in online company operations are facing an urgent situation and have lost billions.”
Politicians have not shown significant concern over the situation, despite rights organizations condemning the outage.
Interestingly, despite growing losses from interruptions, the players in the telecom and IT industries have likewise remained silent on the matter.
The financial losses are only one effect of these moves, according to a senior ISP official.
“Pakistan is losing its reputation among international players, and the internet in Pakistan initiative may not receive the support it needs from investors and international high-tech companies in the future if big names like [X] are not satisfied.”
SOURCE: DAWN NEWS
