Social Media Outages and Internet Restrictions Amid PTI Protest Measures
Citizens across the country faced widespread social media outages and disruptions to internet services. The outages, which began late November 23, have affected major platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram.
Downdetector, a global outage-tracking platform, reported a peak of 207 complaints within an hour, with users primarily struggling to send media through WhatsApp. The disruptions were most pronounced in Punjab, but users in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad also reported significant issues. Lahore, Faisalabad, and Karachi were among the hardest-hit cities.
NetBlocks, a UK-based internet watchdog, confirmed the restrictions, noting that WhatsApp backends had been deliberately limited. The disruptions coincided with heightened security measures, leading to speculation about their connection to the government’s strategy to control the opposition political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI), planned protest march to Islamabad.
The Interior Ministry confirmed that internet and mobile data services would be suspended in areas deemed high-risk for security concerns, particularly in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. “Services will be available in the rest of the country as per routine,” a spokesperson stated. However, residents in the affected regions reported being unable to access basic social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, and WhatsApp.
Cellular services, which had been suspended in Rawalpindi and Islamabad due to the PTI protest, were restored late November 25. However, internet services remain partially suspended, with no clear timeline for full restoration.
Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi had earlier confirmed that cellular and internet services would remain suspended in the twin cities on November 24 as part of preemptive security measures.
On social media, PTI supporters initiated a campaign urging SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to introduce the satellite-based Starlink internet service in Pakistan. Seen as a potential solution for reliable internet connectivity during outages, Starlink has gained attention as an alternative for overcoming government-imposed restrictions.
Photo Source: Ministry of Interior
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