PTI candidates from the election process by arresting them illegally, snatching their nomination papers and harassing them.”

Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has repeatedly stated that his government is determined to hold “free, fair and transparent” general elections. Critics are skeptical about official pledges, however, citing almost daily raids on homes and offices of PTI candidates.

The opposition party says it cannot hold election rallies or meetings because of the crackdown on supporters. Last week, the PTI organized the country’s first virtual rally, drawing upwards of 1.5 million YouTube views and hundreds of thousands on other social media platforms.

PTI and independent global internet monitors confirmed nationwide internet disruptions during the rally, effectively blocking access to major social media platforms, including Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, from within Pakistan

During a recent press briefing, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller was asked for a response to Pakistan’s alleged attempts to disrupt the PTI virtual rally.

“We have always made clear that we think access to the internet is an important component of a free society, and we will continue to make that clear as a general proposition for Pakistan and every other country in the world,” Miller told reporters.

Separately, the Election Commission of Pakistan decided Friday not to allow the PTI to retain its cricket “bat” electoral symbol for the upcoming election, a widely anticipated controversial move.

The election body claimed in its announcement that the PTI was unsuccessful in conducting intra-party elections. Khan’s party denounced the move and vowed to challenge it in the Supreme Court.

Independent critics rejected the decision as politically motivated.

“Quite a ludicrous decision,” said Arif Rafiq, a nonresident scholar at the Middle East Institute in Washington. “Clearly, they are afraid of any reminder of Imran Khan at the ballot box, including a mere symbol representing him and his cricket career,”