Social media platform X has been accessible again in Pakistan after being blocked for over 36 hours starting from February 17.This disruption occurred amidst growing unrest and protests related to alleged election fraud.
Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaqat Ali Chatha’s admission of rigging during the elections heightened tensions, leading to a national-scale blockade of X, as reported by Netblocks, a global internet monitor.
Despite a brief restoration on Sunday, X remained restricted, with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) remaining unresponsive to inquiries.
Usama Khilji, a digital rights activist, criticized the authorities for imposing such internet restrictions, highlighting multiple instances of social media app blockages and mobile internet shutdowns during recent months.
Khilji emphasized the adverse impact of these restrictions on Pakistan’s investment climate, particularly affecting the IT sector.
According to estimates by organizations like Netblocks and the Pakistan Institute for Development Economics, these blockades result in significant financial losses and damage the country’s image internationally.
Furthermore, Khilji argued against the notion that social media solely promotes disinformation, advocating for self-correction mechanisms and cooperation between platforms and users to address misinformation effectively.