Internet services faced serious disruptions on Sunday night as a large number of people complained about difficulties in accessing social media sites where Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was holding a virtual election rally.
Users from different parts of the country reported slow internet speed all across the country, especially in Karachi, Lahore, Mir Pur Khas, and Rawalpindi.
Downdetector confirmed that website versions were down since around 7pm in the evening.
However, PTI supporters have implied that the government deliberately ‘slowed’ the service to thwart people from joining the jalsa.
It is important to note that PTI says that it has been banned from holding public gatherings and rallies across post May 9 riots. However, as elections loom closer, supporters and party leadership are the making most of modern technology and social media to gain momentum.
TV Host, Owais Mangalwala, wrote on X, “The speed of the internet has slowed down to the point that nobody can attend the virtual jalsa”.
انٹرنیٹ کی اسپیڈ اتنی کم کر دی گئی ہے کہ کوئی بھی آن لائن جلسے میں شرکت نہ کر سکے. ڈر کی بھی کوئی حد ہوتی ہے. ایک شخص جو جیل میں ہے، اس کا اتنا خوف!!!!
— Ovais Mangalwala (@ovaismangalwala) December 17, 2023
Different accounts shared screenshots of the number of responses #PTIVirtualJalsa has garnered all across social media.
Some #PTIVirtualJalsa numbers:
— Musa Virk (@MusaNV18) December 17, 2023
▪️1.4 million views on Facebook
▪️1.2 million views on Youtube
▪️1 million views on Twitter Live streaming
▪️1.5 million listeners on Twitter space
▪️4 top trends on Twitter with more than 650 lakh tweets !!
Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi, the… pic.twitter.com/wwjHcwymYf
The meme brigade also jumped in to spin the whole situation funnily.
After installing VPN #PTIVirtualJalsa pic.twitter.com/dk1tlVFtfF
— عاقد (@aquidtweets) December 17, 2023
Taking a jibe at the opposition Usama Ghazi posted a meme:
After #PTIVirtualJalsa…. someone is like….👇👇👇 pic.twitter.com/GcaVJy9KdT
— Muhammad Usama Ghazi (@ghaziusama) December 18, 2023
Some of the netizens showed their commitment to the party by posting videos of them being part of the jalsa even though virtually. Singer Annie Khalid posted on X.
Taking part in the online jalsa @agentjay2009 #PTIVirtualJalsa pic.twitter.com/OzxKKSx7L4
— Annie Khalid (@annie_khalid) December 17, 2023
The Internet Observatory Authority, NetBlocks, also confirmed internet blockades in various parts of the country.
ℹ️ ICYMI: Metrics show major social media platforms were restricted in #Pakistan for ~7 hours on Sunday evening during an online political gathering; the incident is consistent with previous instances of internet censorship targeting opposition leader Imran Khan and his party PTI https://t.co/AS9SdfwqoH pic.twitter.com/XXMYBhknXd
— NetBlocks (@netblocks) December 18, 2023
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has said that it is looking into reports that internet services witnessed disruption in “some parts” of the country, reports The News.
In a statement on Monday, the PTA said the overall situation of internet access across the country was normal.