In a surprising turn of events just a day after caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar reassured the public about a level-playing field for all political parties in the lead-up to the February 8 general elections in Pakistan, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), founded by Imran Khan, alleged that its party websites had been blocked in the country.
Despite the caretaker government’s assurance of fairness, the PTI, a former ruling party, raised concerns about the restriction of its online presence and demanded an explanation from the authorities. This revelation comes amidst the PTI’s ongoing complaints about the absence of a level playing field in the electoral process.
Hello @murtazasolangi @umarsaif and @PTAofficialpk , can you explain why PTI’s websites are blocked in Pakistan?
— PTI (@PTIofficial) January 26, 2024
People are still getting symbol information from Imran Khan’s Facebook page so the question is what purpose is this block serving? https://t.co/JAQ3B3FfGd
Earlier this month, the PTI faced a setback when the Supreme Court annulled the Peshawar High Court’s order, stripping the party of its ‘iconic’ electoral symbol, the “bat.” The decision was linked to alleged irregularities in the PTI’s intraparty elections. Despite this setback, the PTI decided to participate in the upcoming polls by fielding its candidates as independents.
To assist its supporters and voters, the PTI had launched an online portal on its official website, insaf.pk, along with a “back-up site,” pticandidates.com. However, the party now claims that both websites have been blocked by the authorities.
Expressing their concerns on social media, the PTI took to X, formerly known as Twitter, tagging the official handles of key figures including the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Interim Information Minister Murtaza Solangi, and caretaker IT minister Umar Saif. The party questioned the government, asking for an explanation on why PTI’s websites are allegedly blocked in Pakistan.
The party highlighted the issue of the blocked websites impacting voters’ access to symbol information, emphasizing that people were resorting to obtaining such information from Imran Khan’s Facebook page. This raised the pertinent question of the purpose served by blocking the party’s official websites.
Despite these challenges, the PTI continued to adapt to the situation. The party launched a chatbot on Facebook Messenger to assist its supporters in finding information about the electoral symbols allotted to PTI candidates contesting the February 8 elections. This innovative approach showcases the party’s commitment to overcoming obstacles and ensuring voter engagement.
On January 24, the PTI’s official account on X encouraged voters to find out about symbols allotted to PTI-affiliated candidates by sending a direct message to Imran Khan’s official Facebook page. This announcement garnered significant attention with 346,500 views at the time of reporting, indicating the importance of alternative communication channels in the face of website restrictions.
As the general elections draw near, the PTI’s claims of website blockages raise concerns about the free flow of information and transparency in the electoral process. The party’s proactive use of social media platforms and innovative tools like the Facebook Messenger chatbot reflects its determination to connect with voters despite these challenges. The government now faces calls for transparency and an explanation regarding the alleged blocking of PTI’s websites, as the political landscape in Pakistan continues to evolve leading up to the crucial elections on February 8.