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Authorities in Pakistan imposed restrictions on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, amidst growing protests against the electoral process. Internet users across the country experienced difficulties accessing X due to a nationwide disruption that began late on Saturday during the protests.
The timing of the social media block coincided with protests against the alleged rigging of the elections, causing political instability. The blocking of X occurred as the former ruling party held nationwide demonstrations to denounce the purported election manipulation.
Read more: PTI Declares Nationwide Protest Against Alleged Rigging In Elections 2024
Despite the Pakistan Telecom Authority not providing official updates about the restriction, the public was aware of the development, as such actions often take place during periods of political unrest. Netblocks, a global internet watchdog, reported that live metrics indicated a new national-scale disruption to X/Twitter in Pakistan amid escalating unrest and protests over allegations of election fraud. This followed a high-level resignation and a public admission of vote manipulation by a senior election official.
In addition to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), several other political parties also took to the streets to protest against the alleged election rigging. The Commissioner of Rawalpindi added fuel to the fire on Saturday by admitting to altering election results in 13 national and 26 provincial constituencies through the misuse of his administrative powers.
The social media block raised concerns about the restriction of freedom of expression and access to information. Such actions by authorities during times of political turmoil have been criticized for limiting citizens’ ability to communicate and express their grievances. The situation highlights the complex dynamics between the government, social media platforms, and citizens in the context of political protests and allegations of electoral misconduct.
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