Pakistan unblocks WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook after temporary suspension

Islamabad: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority blocked WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook, popular social media sites, for four hours across the country Friday morning. Services were restored by about 3pm after Jummah prayers.

The temporary ban was imposed on Facebook, Google, Twitter, Telegram, TikTok, WhatsApp, and YouTube. The government said they would resume working at 3pm.

The decision has been taken to maintain the law and order situation in the country.

The PTA took the step on the instructions of the Ministry of Interior. In a letter, it said that “complete access to social media platforms” should be suspended from 11am to 3pm.

The step comes a day after Pakistan imposed a ban on the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan. PEMRA even blocked all TV channels from providing any coverage to the banned organisation.

The authorities have in the past suspended mobile phone and internet services in the areas where the party protesters had gathered in Islamabad and parts of Punjab. This is the first time a ban has been imposed on all social media sites across the country.

Pakistan is connected with the cyberworld through five undersea cables, of which three are owned and operated by PTCL and the other two by Transworld.

When PTA, the telecom sector’s watchdog, wants to block websites, apps, and URLs (web addresses), it instructs all internet service providers in the country to block them and report compliance.

Since PTCL and Transworld are the only two gateway (wholesale) internet providers in Pakistan, when they block a particular website it is likely that it will be blocked across the country. However, each and every internet service provider has to block the same website on their network as well to ensure all the addresses linked to that particular website are blocked.