A number of civil society organisations and business entities have called on the government to restore internet services in the country after they were suspended following Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan’s arrest on Tuesday.
Internet services were suspended in parts of Pakistan shortly after former prime minister Khan was arrested from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in the Al-Qadir Trust case Tuesday evening. Reports started emerging of both complete connectivity blackouts and frequent disruptions, with leading social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube turning inaccessible to a large number of users.
In a joint statement released on Wednesday, members of civil society and business community condemned the internet shutdowns in the wake of the continuing political upheaval.
“Government’s blocking or hindering Internet connectivity like blanket shutdowns undermines constitutional rights and fundamental freedoms, including access to critical information during conflict, the right to peaceful assembly and freedoms of association and expression that form the basis of a democratic society,” reads the statement.
The disruptions were confirmed by NetBlocks, an organisation that tracks internet outages around the world. Subsequently, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) confirmed it had blocked mobile broadband services on the interior ministry’s directives. On Wednesday, the PTA stated internet services across the country would remain suspended for an indefinite period. The suspension has led to an increase in the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).
⚠️ Update: Metrics show internet blackouts and social media restrictions remain in place in #Pakistan; the measures were imposed on Tuesday amid the arrest of former PM Imran Khan and continue to limit the public's right to stay informed 📵
📰 Report: https://t.co/BCs5hPpTsU pic.twitter.com/X9FICEAIyy
— NetBlocks (@netblocks) May 10, 2023
The statement adds internet shutdowns demonstrate a negative impact on Pakistani startups, which attracted more than $700 million in investment during 2022 and 2023. These startups are “playing a critical role in promoting entrepreneurship, job creation, and digitization across the economy.”
The internet disruptions significantly affect a large number of freelancers and digital creators, it said.
“We emphatically call on the Government of Pakistan to immediately lift restrictions intended to disrupt or prevent the citizens from accessing and disseminating information online and from communicating safely and securely,” members of civil society and the business community demand, while also urging the government to recognise internet access as a basic fundamental right that cannot be taken away “arbitrarily”.
The suspension is being roundly condemned by digital rights activists and human rights organisations.
