Information and Culture Minister of Punjab Azma Bukhari caught immense attention on social media for her ‘fiber wall’ gaffe.
While talking to the media outside the Lahore High Court, Azma Bukhari in a slip of the tongue, kept calling ‘firewall’ as ‘fiber wall’. Bukhari was addressing the media regarding her petition filed in Lahore High Court following the release of her morphed objectionable video. She said a vicious campaign had targeted her on social media.
Bukhari said she has submitted an application in court and mentioned the X accounts’ names in her petition. She said that some are local accounts while most of them are run overseas. Adding that the government has got a ‘fiber wall’ and tracking and tracing them is easier now.
There are speculations of government testing firewalls, with many people complaining of slow internet speed. However, how much of this can be attributed to the firewall cannot be ascertained yet.
Since July 20, WhatsApp users across Pakistan have faced significant disruptions in sending and receiving media files over mobile networks. Complaints from users have flooded global monitoring platforms like Downdetector, indicating persistent issues with voice notes, photos, and videos. Users report delays in media downloads and frequent error messages, frustrating millions who rely on the messaging app for daily communication.
In response, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) acknowledged the problem but attributed it to a “technical glitch.” Malahat Obaid, PTA spokesperson, assured the public that the issue was minor and downplayed its severity. Despite this, specifics regarding the nature of the glitch remain undisclosed. Representatives from major telecom operators also confirmed the disruptions but asserted that the problems did not originate from their networks.
Read more: Technical Glitch or Firewall? WhatsApp Disruptions in Pakistan Stir Debate
Amidst PTA’s assurances, Usama Khilji, director of Bolo Bhi, a digital rights advocacy group, suggested that the disruptions might be linked to a government firewall installation aimed at controlling internet and communication technologies. This speculation has gained traction among social media users and digital activists, who believe that the firewall’s purpose is to block certain internet content, particularly evidence of state violations shared on social media platforms.