According to internet monitoring group NetBlocks, several service providers in the country reportedly restricted access to social media platform Facebook on Wednesday, the 10th day of Yaum-i-Ashura (Muharram).
Yaum-i-Ashura is solemnly observed every year on the 10th day of the month of Muharram to pay tribute to Imam Husayn, the grandson of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and other martyrs of Karbala.
NetBlocks said authorities would “typically restrict mobile internet services” in this case.
Downdetector, which tracks outages by collating reports from multiple sources, including users, also showed that user reports indicated there were problems accessing Facebook.
Instagram also saw issues.
Both Facebook and Instagram are owned by Meta.
The Balochistan government had already decided to suspend mobile phone and internet services in the provincial capital and other sensitive areas for four days during the month of Muharram.
The Punjab government has also asked the Ministry of Interior to shut down online social media apps from 6 to 11 Muharram to avoid sectarian violence and curb the spread of hateful content and misinformation.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has postponed its decision on the Punjab government’s request to suspend six social media platforms for about a week.
A statement from the Ministry of Interior said no decision had been taken on the provincial government’s request for internet shutdown, adding that the final decision in this regard rests with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The interior minister said last week that suspending internet and mobile services would cause hardship for the people and the decision would be taken into account local conditions and the security situation.
