In Pakistan, Twitter (now X) has been down for more than four days.

Late Tuesday night, Pakistanis encountered difficulties accessing Popular social networking platform X, formerly known as Twitter, with the government remaining silent regarding the disruption that began last Saturday.

Although the platform briefly became accessible today, access was once again disrupted, with no official explanation provided.

Despite Pakistan's claim of being a significant internet user globally, the country struggles with consistent internet availability, ranking low compared to its counterparts. Authorities reportedly intermittently disrupt access to social media platforms.

Before the February 8 general elections, users faced difficulties accessing several social media sites, attributed by authorities to technical errors. However, on election day, the internet was shut down purportedly to prevent terrorism, according to the caretaker government. Following the elections, disruptions in accessing X persisted.

Internet shutdowns directly infringe upon constitutionally guaranteed rights such as freedom of information (Article 19-A), freedom of speech (Article 19), and freedom of association (Article 17). In a ruling in February 2018, the Islamabad High Court declared internet shutdowns unconstitutional.

When approached for comment, caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi redirected inquiries to the Minister of Information Technology and Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). However, no response was received from either.

Digital rights activist and journalist Farieha Aziz stated that the ban on X continues without official acknowledgment from the PTA or the caretaker government. She criticized the deflection by authorities and alleged that the prime minister and IT minister are using VPNs to access X.

Aziz highlighted that, according to PECA laws, only the PTA holds the authority to block platforms, and any instructions from the federal government are not legally binding. She emphasized that the restriction is both unreasonable and illegal, aiming to stifle discourse on election irregularities and citizen dissent.

Usama Khilji, director at Bolo Bhi, criticized the government's lack of transparency, noting the uncertainty created by the absence of notices or announcements regarding the blockage. He suggested that the blocking of X coincides with allegations and evidence of election rigging circulating on social media platforms.

Digital rights activist Haroon Baloch emphasized the importance of X as a platform for free speech, peaceful assembly, and online campaigning. He lamented the negative reputation earned by Pakistan due to restrictions on X and VPNs, which hinder citizens' access to information and global connectivity.

Lahore-based researcher Mohammad Saad expressed concerns about the implications of limited access to X, particularly for those relying on the platform for news and staying connected globally.