Internet disruptions were reported late Sunday across the country as several social media platforms slowed down or became inaccessible.
The connectivity problems, which affected both cellular and broadband internet services, were confirmed by NetBlocks, an organisation that tracks internet disruptions worldwide. Leading social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube, faced widespread outages, according to NetBlocks.
At the time of writing this report, Google and its services were also significantly slow. Reports of connectivity issues surfaced from various cities, including Karachi, Islamabad, and Lahore.
The disruptions were widely attributed to a possible response to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s virtual rally, which started at 8pm. Shortly after the gathering began, reports of slow internet and complete disruption started to emerge from across the country.
The disruptions were roundly condemned by the PTI, digital rights activists, and internet users.
Earlier in May, internet was suspended following the PTI Chief Imran Khan’s arrest. The outage was confirmed by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), which said it had taken the action on the interior ministry’s directives. The move was widely condemned, including by Amnesty International.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information comes in
