As the anticipation for the general election results grows in Pakistan, following the polls closing on Thursday, citizens encountered significant disruptions to Twitter, now known as X. Reports of the social media platform’s outage have been widespread throughout the nation, confirmed by the internet monitoring group Netblocks.
From 4-6pm on Saturday, as the nation eagerly awaited updates, users found themselves unable to access X, leading to speculations and concerns about potential election interference. The timing of the outage, amidst the crucial post-election period, raised eyebrows and concerns among the public and professionals alike.
Journalists and human rights advocates voiced worries that such frequent disruptions could hinder the electoral process’s transparency. The suspicion that these outages might serve to skew the election results has sparked a broader conversation about censorship and digital rights. In response to the blockade, many individuals turned to VPNs to bypass the restrictions and access X, while others openly criticized the perceived censorship efforts.
The PTI Karachi’s official account also noted that X was experiencing significant slowdowns across Pakistan, further complicating the public’s ability to receive timely updates and share information.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has been notably slow in releasing the election results, casting a shadow over the electoral process already plagued by various challenges. This delay has fueled further speculation and concern among the electorate.
Preliminary Election Results
According to the latest counts from the ECP, independent candidates appear to be taking the lead with 100 seats, while the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is not far behind with 71 seats, and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) follows with 54 seats.
The outage of Twitter in Pakistan during such a pivotal time highlights the intricate relationship between digital platforms, political processes, and the quest for transparency. As the nation navigates through these digital and electoral challenges, the call for reliable access to information has never been more critical.