Services of X, previously known as Twitter, remained unavailable for many users in Pakistan for the sixth consecutive day on Thursday, prompting concerns from the United States about freedom of expression. Aaj News staff reported needing VPNs to access the platform. The outage began after former Rawalpindi commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatta’s claims of electoral fraud, where he alleged changing results for 13 MNA candidates. This led to winning candidates with 50,000 vote leads. Amidst this, the US called on Pakistan to restore access to X, emphasizing freedom of expression. Sindh High Court’s Chief Justice also ordered immediate restoration of internet services.
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Services of X, formerly known as Twitter, remained inaccessible to numerous Pakistani users for the sixth consecutive day on Thursday, triggering concerns about freedom of expression. Reportedly, staffers at Aaj News had to resort to using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to bypass the restrictions and access the social media platform.
The disruption to X’s services in Pakistan commenced last Saturday evening following startling claims of electoral fraud made by former Rawalpindi commissioner, Liaquat Ali Chatta. During a press conference, Chatta revealed that he had resigned from his position after orchestrating changes to results for a minimum of 13 MNA (Member of the National Assembly) candidates within the Rawalpindi Division.
Chatta’s claims included assertions that candidates who were initially trailing in the election were declared victors with an astonishing lead of 50,000 votes each. These revelations shook the political landscape of the region, sparking further controversy and casting doubts on the legitimacy of the election results.
The situation prompted a response from the United States, as State Department spokesman Matthew Miller addressed the issue during a press briefing. Miller expressed the U.S.’s concern over any limitations placed on freedom of expression and association in Pakistan. He urged the Pakistani government to respect freedom of expression and promptly restore access to social media platforms like X, which was previously referred to as Twitter.
“We are concerned by any report of restrictions on the exercise of the freedom of expression and association in Pakistan, including a partial or complete government-imposed internet shutdown,” stated Miller. “We continue to call on Pakistan to respect freedom of expression and restore access to any social media that has been restricted including Twitter, now known as X.”
Adding to the pressure, on Wednesday, the Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court, Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, issued an order to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) demanding an immediate restoration of internet services throughout the country. This legal directive underscores the growing urgency to resolve the ongoing internet restrictions and restore normalcy to the digital landscape of Pakistan.
