Netizens link internet outage with PTI virtual jalsa

Netizens link internet outage with PTI virtual jalsa

Critics, including political activists and netizens, are accusing the interim government of intentionally slowing down the country's internet to hinder PTI's online event
Netizens link internet outage with PTI virtual jalsa

Webdesk

|

18 Dec 2023

Amidst a crackdown on party leaders and workers, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) held a virtual jalsa on Sunday.

Throughout the country on Sunday, internet users experienced nationwide internet disruptions across various social media platforms, with only WhatsApp chat functioning.

Netizens are linking the unexpected disruption of online services with the PTI's virtual jalsa, where speeches from PTI leaders and supporters were featured across different regions of the country.

The PTI's virtual gathering was broadcast live on YouTube and Twitter, garnering thousands of viewers. Many in Pakistan resorted to VPN services due to ongoing internet disruptions.

Critics, including political activists and netizens, are accusing the interim government of intentionally slowing down the country's internet to hinder PTI's online event.

By 10 pm on Sunday, the PTI's official YouTube channel had over 82,000 live viewers, and the Twitter stream had more than 40,000 viewers. Viewer numbers fluctuated as people faced difficulty tuning into the online event. 

South Asian political analyst Michael Kugleman took to ‘X’ to react to the internet disruption in Pakista, associating it with the politically volatile climate of Pakistan.

“Cutting off access in Pakistan to the opposition PTI party's online rally will backfire-because many months of crackdowns on the party have done nothing to dent its popularity, and also because PTI has such a large support base outside Pakistan. Predictable but wrongheaded move.”

Journalist Imran Riaz Khan also reacred to the internet outage.

Following the National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) arrest of the former PTI chairman on May 9th, widespread riots erupted across the country, resulting in damage to government and private property.

The riots served as a death knell for the party already reeling from legal and political quagmires. Currently, PTI is facing challenges as prominent members have either left the party or are incarcerated under various charges.

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