‘They’re even scared of Imran Khan’s AI,’ Pakistani netizens react as internet slowdown during PTI's virtual meet

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Pakistan experienced a widespread outage, with users reporting difficulties accessing social media platforms, according to Dawn, citing Internet monitor Netblocks. As reported by ANI, the disruption coincided with the virtual event organized by former Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), scheduled to commence at 9 pm, resulting in the entire social media platform going offline.

In July, Pakistan secured the third position globally for imposing internet restrictions during the first half of 2023. Also Read: Pakistan facing slow internet ahead of 'virtual jalsa' organised by Imran Khan's party? Here's what netizens say “Live metrics show a nation-scale disruption to social media platforms across #Pakistan, including X, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube," Netblocks said in a statement.

The internet monitoring agency also observed that the disruption occurred just before a significant virtual gathering organized by PTI. The online event commenced at 9 pm.

Pakistani netizens reacted on X saying, “They are scared of Khan's AI." PTI also condemned the reported disruptions and called this “proof of fear" of the party's "unprecedented popularity." "This is proof of the fear of the unprecedented popularity of Imran Khan's PTI! In what was an expected move, the illegitimate, fascist regime has slowed down internet speed & disruption of social media platforms all across Pakistan, prior to PTI's historic Virtual Jalsa!" PTI posted on X. Also Read: Financial strain hits PIA, 7,000 employees not paid November salaries Another user Ihtisham Ul Haq wrote, “Scared and afraid of the virtual, what will happen in reality.