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The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) raised concerns on Friday, asserting that its websites were “blocked” within Pakistan ahead of the scheduled general elections on February 8. The party, known for its ‘bat’ electoral symbol, has nominated its candidates as independents with various symbols due to the absence of its signature emblem. To address potential confusion among voters, the PTI introduced an online portal on its website, insaf.pk, along with a “back-up site,” pticandidates.com.
Expressing discontent, the party’s official social media account tagged the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), interim information minister Murtaza Solangi, and interim IT minister Umar Saif, seeking an explanation for the website blockage. The post questioned the purpose of the block when voters could still obtain symbol information from Imran Khan’s Facebook page.
Hello @murtazasolangi @umarsaif and @PTAofficialpk , can you explain why PTI’s websites are blocked in Pakistan?
People are still getting symbol information from Imran Khan’s Facebook page so the question is what purpose is this block serving? https://t.co/JAQ3B3FfGd
— PTI (@PTIofficial) January 26, 2024
Read more : Fake Site Spreads Misinformation About PTI-Supported Candidates
The PTI’s move to nominate candidates independently was prompted by the absence of its traditional symbol, the ‘bat,’ for the upcoming polls. The party’s efforts to provide an alternative method for voters to access election-related information through its online portal were hampered by the alleged blocking of its websites.
Notably, a fake web portal resembling the one launched by the PTI disseminated incorrect information about PTI-backed candidates, adding to the challenges faced by the party.
In recent weeks, the PTI has experienced multiple nationwide internet outages coinciding with its online events. The most recent disruption occurred on January 20, just an hour before the PTI’s “virtual power show.” Similar disruptions were reported on December 17 and January 7, leading the party to petition the Supreme Court to address the issue of internet suspension.
In response to these disruptions, the Sindh High Court issued an order restraining relevant authorities from suspending internet services until the general elections on February 8. The order was a result of a petition filed by human rights defender and lawyer Jibran Nasir, who contested the polls as an independent candidate for PS-110. Nasir raised concerns about the frequent and “unconstitutional” internet outages in the country.
Earlier on January 22, Interim Information Minister Murtaza Solangi attributed the recent internet outages to “technical issues,” expressing uncertainty about the prevention of such incidents in the future. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) cited a “technical fault” as the cause of the disruptions, while PTA DG Pirzada attributed the outages to “technical glitches” and system upgrades, suggesting the possibility of facing similar issues for the next two to three months.
In summary, the PTI’s claim of website blockage and the associated challenges with internet disruptions pose significant concerns ahead of the general elections. The party’s efforts to navigate the situation by nominating candidates as independents and providing alternative online portals highlight the complexities arising from these issues.
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