Pakistani minister says May 2023 protests unforgivable despite talks with Imran Khan's party

Key coalition ally criticizes Pakistani government's excuses for imposing internet restrictions

ISLAMABAD: The chairman of a key government coalition partner, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, this week criticized the center's apology for imposing internet restrictions in Pakistan that freelancers and rights activists say is aimed at suppressing dissent in the country.

The PPP chairman's criticism comes in response to recent government measures that have been interpreted by activists and opposition parties as a digital crackdown on internet freedom in the country. Pakistani officials admitted in June that the government was installing a national firewall, apparently designed to curb anti-state propaganda and blasphemous content, that was slowing internet speeds across the country.

The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) has also intensified its crackdown on virtual private networks (VPNs), allowing their legal use only after users register with the government, posing challenges for freelancers and businesses that depend on online access.

Activists say the restrictions are aimed at countering criticism from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who have a strong presence on social media platforms. The government denies these allegations.

There is a lot of room for criticism on this digital issue, Bhutto-Zardari told reporters in the southern city of Larkana on Saturday.

Every day there's a new excuse, sometimes they admit we shut it down [Internet] and sometimes they say we didn't do anything like that. Then sometimes they say our wires were cut, then they say there's a [firewall] tests are underway, he added.

Earlier this week, the PPP chairman called for a digital bill of rights to ensure internet freedoms for citizens across the country.

In December, Minister of State for IT and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima Khawaja defended internet restrictions, citing security concerns.

No one is interested in shutting down the internet, she told parliament. Law and order is paramount to us, but we will do everything possible to ensure there is no disruption to the industry.

Slow internet speeds across the country have disrupted Pakistani freelancers, who have reported disruptions in carrying out their assignments and tasks.

According to central bank data, Pakistani freelancers earned $397.3 million in overseas remittances in the 2021-22 financial year.

This amount is probably underestimated, as a large part of self-employed income is received in the form of home remittances.

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