Omar Ayub demands restoration of social media sites in Pakistan

• Social media sites like Facebook, X are being blocked: Omar Ayub. 
• Claims over 100 workers were arrested during protests yesterday.
• "Our candidates were defeated through rigging," adds PTI leader.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Omar Ayub Khan on Monday called on the authorities concerned to restore the social media sites in the country. 

"They are blocking social media even today. We demand that the social media sites should be restored," said the PTI leader while speaking to media persons in Islamabad. 

X, formerly Twitter, has remained largely restricted in Pakistan since February 17 with people accessing the popular site using a VPN. 

Speaking to a local media channel, former caretaker information minister Murtaza Solangi said that the interim government had nothing to do with the X shutdown in Pakistan.  

"This fascist government has completely lost its mind. Different social media platforms like Facebook, X, and Instagram are being blocked and their speed has also been slowed," said Omar.

He said that the sites were being blocked so that the citizens were unable to get their hands on "right and fast information". 

"We strongly condemn this as Pakistan cannot develop without social media and we demand to restore these sites without any obstruction and blockage," said the PTI leader. 

"Our candidates were defeated through rigging," claimed the PTI leader. He also slammed Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and the police for lodging terror cases against the party workers during the protests held yesterday.

He claimed that over 100 workers of his party were arrested during the protests yesterday. "PTI has always been a peaceful party and will remain one," he added. 

The PTI is among other parties that have rejected the 2024 general elections, claiming that the polls were rigged by their rivals. The Imran Khan-founded party had been holding protests across the country against the "rigging" in elections.

Ayub said that a delegation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had visited PTI founder Imran Khan last year. In that meeting, the former premier told the delegation that they could sign an agreement for the betterment of Pakistan. 

"However, he told the IMF team that the February 8 elections should be held within its time under the law and Constitution," said the former minister. 

He added that the "illegal governments" did not abide by the Constitution and violated it. "Those who delayed the election were guilty of violating Article 6," he added. 

The PTI leader further said that the Shehbaz Sharif-led government does not have the ability or guts to bring IMF reforms. We are afraid that the current government will misuse the IMF loan.