Internet, social media blackout in Pakistan amid Imran Khan arrest

Internet access has been cut off in several regions of Pakistan, while access to Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube has been entirely restricted following Tuesday's arrest of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The Pakistan interior ministry also ordered a suspension of all mobile data services, according to the independent state’s telecommunications watchdog.

NetBlocks, a global internet monitoring service, confirmed that all “social media platforms were being restricted on the main internet providers across Pakistan,” around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.

“In addition to social media restrictions, real-time network data show that total internet shutdowns are now in effect in some regions of Pakistan, NetBlocks reported in a follow-up tweet.

The move by Pakistan’s officials is expected to “limit freedom of assembly and the public's ability to seek information,” NetBlocks tweeted.

The global monitoring service went on to recommend using a VPN to circumvent the blocks.

Copywriter and blockchain developer Shahnaseeb B. Bhatti, located in Lahore, the capital of Pakistan’s Punjab province, posted that he was able to connect to the internet through the darknet.

“This is true. But its also I just live a few miles away from where all this chaos is happening. Accessing via Tor,” Bhatti tweeted just minutes after the NetBlocks report.

The last time internet access was blocked by Pakistani authorities was on May 25th, 2022, the day Khan was ousted from the government and throngs of protesters took to the streets.

The 70-year old former leader was arrested Tuesday by paramilitary troops on alleged corruption charges stemming from his four years as PM.

Khan is said to be Pakistan's most popular leader of all time, fueling clashes between military troops and supporters.

Officials in three of Pakistan's four provinces imposed an emergency ban on all gatherings after riots broke out in multiple cities following his arrest.

One protester was reportedly killed in Tuesday’s clashes and 12 more were injured, including six police officers.

Videos and news of the clashes were reportedly circulating on social media before access was restricted.

Last August, Pakistani officials cut off access to YouTube during a live steam of a speech given by the former PM.

NetBlock reports also show the Pakistan ministry restricted Wikipedia over alleged “sacrilegious” content back in February.