On Sunday, internet services were disrupted across various regions of Pakistan, coinciding with a call for a protest in Islamabad by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Users from Islamabad to Karachi, as well as those in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reported issues, particularly with mobile internet.
WhatsApp users faced difficulties in accessing WhatsApp Web and in sending or receiving multimedia messages on the mobile app. The global monitoring group NetBlocks confirmed that WhatsApp services were unavailable for many users across several internet service providers in Pakistan.
The disruptions come in the wake of PTI’s call for a protest in Islamabad, demanding the release of its leader, Imran Khan, who is currently imprisoned in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail.
The Ministry of Interior had previously stated that any internet or cellular service suspensions would be confined to areas deemed high-risk for security reasons. The ongoing disruptions reflect a broader pattern of communication shutdowns in Pakistan, including the continued blocking of X (formerly Twitter) for nearly nine months, and frequent mobile service suspensions throughout 2024.
