the services of X, previously known as Twitter, were reinstated following a temporary disruption earlier in the day. The outage had hindered access for users, including staff members of Aaj News, who were unable to connect to the platform even with the assistance of a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
The disruption occurred at 12:10 pm, causing inconvenience for users attempting to utilize the social media platform. This interruption comes amidst a backdrop of political turmoil in Pakistan, where protests have erupted over allegations of rigging in general elections and claims of electoral fraud.
According to reports from Netblocks, an independent internet observatory, Twitter had been restricted in Pakistan for the past 24 hours leading up to the restoration of services. A post by Netblocks on Sunday highlighted the censorship measures imposed by authorities, citing reports of election fraud as the catalyst for the extended restriction.
“Update: Metrics show that X/Twitter has now been restricted in #Pakistan for 24 hours, the latest and longest in a series of nation-scale internet censorship measures imposed by authorities as reports of election fraud emerge,” the post stated, accompanied by metrics illustrating the extent of the restrictions.
The reinstatement of Twitter services comes as a relief for users and journalists who rely on the platform for communication and information dissemination. However, the incident underscores ongoing concerns regarding internet censorship and access to information in the region, particularly during times of political unrest.
