Islamabad: (PPF) Since November 23, citizens in different parts of Pakistan have been experiencing disruptions in internet access and access to social media platforms. While the government had announced possible closures in specific “high-risk areas” ahead of protests by the opposition political party, the Pakistan Tehreek i Insaf (PTI), the sporadic, widespread, and unexplained service disruptions extend far beyond the capital. Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) is alarmed by the ease with which citizens’ right to access information is being disrupted. Furthermore, the lack of clarity on when services will be restored and why they are being disrupted is of grave concern. We urge the government to pay heed to recommendations for consultations ahead of blocking unregistered Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

Ahead of a planned protest by PTI in Islamabad, Geo had reported that mobile services were likely to be suspended countrywide. The interior ministry, however,  issued a statement that mobile data and internet would be suspended in areas of “heightened security concerns.” The ministry had clarified that the internet closures would be “limited to specific high-risk areas,” adding that the remainder of the country would have regular connectivity, The Express Tribune reported. 

The disruptions in access to social media platforms in cities such as Karachi beyond where the PTI planned protests have not been explained and have left citizens in the dark affecting connectivity and access to information without any proper explanation provided. The widespread disruptions also contradict the interior ministry’s statement that closures would be limited to specific high-risk areas. In a period of political upheaval, it is even more important for citizens, particularly in cities where protests are taking place, to remain updated about developments. 

Disruptions to connectivity and access to different platforms began in different parts of the country on the night of November 23, with reports of different disruptions in access to connectivity and services in Karachi, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Peshawar, and many cities of Punjab including Bahawalpur, Dera Ismail Khan, Gujranwala amongst others. 

Social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Instagram have faced disrupted access with different restrictions, including the inability to share media on the platforms. According to The News, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is conducting a second trial of blocking unregistered VPNs ahead of an upcoming registration deadline of November 30.

This internet disruption comes shortly after the PTA on November 15 announced that mobile internet and cellular services were suspended in multiple districts of the Balochistan province in response to escalating terrorist attacks across Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.