By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: A nationwide internet outage disrupted the online rally of the main opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday, raising suspicions of government interference ahead of a crucial election next month.
The PTI, led by former prime minister Imran Khan, who is currently in jail on corruption charges, had planned to broadcast its event on YouTube and other platforms to mobilize its supporters ahead of the general elections scheduled for February 8.
But an hour before the rally was scheduled to begin, many internet users across the country reported difficulties accessing social media sites, including X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
NetBlocks, a London-based group that monitors internet disruptions, confirmed a “nation-scale disruption” to social media platforms in Pakistan, which it said coincided with the PTI’s virtual gathering.
Live metrics show a nation-scale disruption to social media platforms across Pakistan, including X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube,” NetBlocks said on X.
“The incident comes as persecuted opposition leader Imran Khan’s political party, PTI, launches its second virtual gathering.”
The PTI accused the caretaker government and the military of orchestrating the blackout to sabotage its campaign.
“Shame on the caretakers that are causing damage to Pakistanis only, and this was the proof of what they intend to do on February 8, but the people are aware of all such moves,” PTI spokesman Raoof Hassan said in a statement.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), which regulates internet services in the country, denied any involvement in the disruption and said it was caused by a “technical fault” that was promptly rectified.
“Internet services have been fully restored nationwide,” the PTA said on X.
The PTI, which claims to have millions of followers on social media, has been relying on online platforms to reach out to voters amid the absence of its leader, Khan, who is serving a three-year sentence in Rawalpindi.
Khan, a former cricket star who became prime minister in 2018, was convicted in August of concealing income from selling state gifts, he received while in office.
The PTI, which came to power on an anti-corruption platform, has also accused the caretaker government and the military of cracking down on its activists, candidates, and media allies, and of manipulating the electoral process to ensure a victory for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the party of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
This is not the first time that the PTI’s online campaign has faced technical glitches. Earlier this month, the party’s first virtual rally was also disrupted by internet issues, which the PTI blamed on the authorities.
The PTI has said it will continue to hold virtual rallies until the elections, despite the challenges.
“We will not be deterred by these tactics. We will keep fighting for our rights and for the people of Pakistan,” Hassan said.
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