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Business Recorder
7 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
PPF expresses alarm over ban on 27 YouTube channels
KARACHI: The Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) expressed alarm over an Islamabad court's order to block 27 YouTube channels, which are operated by journalists, commentators, and political voices on allegations of spreading 'provocative and derogatory contents against state institutions and officials of state of Pakistan'. PPF urged the court to reconsider such a mass blanket ban. We urge the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and relevant authorities to respect due process and constitutional guarantees when handling digital content. PPF notes with alarm that the process of blocking these channels was initiated without giving the affected individuals the right to respond, raising concerns about transparency, due process, and the chilling effect on freedom of expression online. PPF reiterates that while the state may have need to address disinformation, any such action must be transparent, proportional, and respectful of fundamental rights. The unilateral silencing of critical voices through opaque legal processes threatens the democratic values of accountability and freedom of expression. An order from the Court of the Judicial Magistrate NCCIA Islamabad in response to an enquiry dated June 2, 2025, listed the names of 27 YouTube channels. These included channels operated by prominent journalists such as Matiullah Jan, Asad Ali Toor, and Ahmad Noorani; political commentators like Imran Riaz Khan, Siddique Jan, and Sabir Shakir; the official channel of the opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and its founder, Imran Khan; as well as several others. The written order stated that the content on these channels constitutes offences punishable under the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act and other penal laws of Pakistan. It directed the Head or Officer In-Charge of the Security Department / Custodian of Records at Google LLC to block and remove the specified YouTube channels. According to news channel, an NCCIA sub-inspector had informed the judicial magistrate in Islamabad that under PECA, they were conducting an enquiry into 'YouTube channels who are involved in disseminating and propagating fake and misleading information against the state Institutions which is likely to cause fear, panic, disorder or unrest in the general public or society along with defamatory and fake remarks/information, which violates the privacy and harms the dignity of the officials of state institutions.' He said that they were found sharing 'highly intimidating, provocative and derogatory contents against state institutions and officials of state of Pakistan,' a 'source of publicly disseminating/propagating false, misleading and fake information against the state institutions/officials.' He said the suspects had 'attempted to provoke the general public and armed forces personnel by trying to create a feeling of ill-will among pillars of the state,' the channel reported. YouTube has begun notifying affected channel owners. A notice sent to journalist Asad Toor stated: 'We have received a legal removal request citing the court order dated 24 June 2025 in Enquiry No. 717/2025, seeking blocking of your channel [… ] A copy of the court order is attached for your reference. You may choose to act on the said content in terms of the aforesaid court order. If you fail to do so, as per our local law obligations, we may comply with the request without further notice to you.' The Press Association of the Supreme Court of Pakistan strongly condemned the move, describing it as a violation of constitutional rights. The Association stated that journalists were denied a fair hearing and described the order as a form of 'economic strangulation.' The statement called on the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take immediate notice. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said they were greatly concerned by the court directive, which they said came following a complaint by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).'The wholesale blocking of entire channels—rather than addressing specific instances of unlawful or hateful speech in accordance with due process—conflates dissent with criminal activity,' HRCP said. The FIA issued a statement that news reports that the judicial magistrate's order to the FIA to close the YouTube channels was 'completely baseless and inaccurate,' adding that the NCCIA was now fully operational and the court order was issued on NCCIA's request. Currently, most of the YouTube channels remain accessible in Pakistan. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Arab News
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan court orders YouTube to block channels of ex-PM Imran Khan, journalists
KARACHI: A number of Pakistani journalists said on Tuesday they received notifications from YouTube, citing a court order from Islamabad directing the blocking of their channels, along with those of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. According to notices seen by Arab News, the US-based video-sharing platform said it had received a legal removal request referencing a court order dated June 24, 2025, in Enquiry No. 717/2025. The list of affected channels includes those of senior journalists Matiullah Jan, Habib Akram, Sabir Shakir, Asad Ali Toor, Ahmed Noorani and at least 20 others, alongside Khan's and PTI's official YouTube channels. Zulfi Bukhari, a close aide to Khan, told Arab News by phone that PTI's channels had not yet received any formal notification. However, several journalists confirmed receiving takedown notices via YouTube and vowed to challenge the court's directive. 'I am in contact with fellow journalists whose channels have been served with similar notices, and we intend to challenge this in court,' said Habib Akram, a Lahore-based anchor and political commentator, adding the order had been issued without any prior notice or summons from the Islamabad court. 'The decision appears to lack any clear legal basis and seems to be an apparent attempt to suppress independent journalism,' he added. The order, issued by Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah in Islamabad, instructed YouTube's parent company, Google LLC, to block 27 channels for allegedly violating Pakistan's Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and other penal laws. 'You may choose to act on the said content in term of the aforesaid court order,' read a notice issued by YouTube. 'If you fail to do so, as per our local law obligation, we may comply with the request without further notice to you.' Asad Ali Toor, a journalist based in Islamabad whose name appears on the list, criticized both the court and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) for acting without giving him a chance to be heard. 'For the past three months, NCCIA has also frozen my and my family's bank accounts without any hearing,' he said. Toor attributed such actions to his 'critical reporting' on sensitive issues like enforced disappearances and institutional overreach. He said he had previously received notices about specific videos, but this was the first time his entire channel had been targeted. Matiullah Jan voiced concern about the broader implications of the move. 'I believe YouTube should not block any channel solely on the basis of an inquiry without a court order,' he said. 'If this becomes a norm, it could set a dangerous precedent globally.' Despite multiple requests, the Ministries of Interior and Information & Broadcasting did not respond to Arab News queries seeking clarification on the government's role in the matter or the legal grounds for the request to YouTube. The court order referenced by YouTube states that during an inquiry under Section 94 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 'evidence regarding YouTube channels' was deemed necessary, and their content constituted offenses under Pakistan's cybercrime laws. Digital rights groups and press freedom watchdogs have frequently criticized the Pakistani government for using vague legal provisions to stifle dissent. In its 2024 report, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked Pakistan 152nd out of 180 countries on the World Press Freedom Index, citing growing censorship, legal harassment of journalists, and tightening control over digital platforms. Journalists now fear the court-backed move could deepen digital censorship in the country. 'We are not only being silenced, but also criminalized for doing our job,' said Toor. 'This is not just about YouTube. It's about the future of press freedom in Pakistan.'
Business Recorder
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Govt orders YouTube account bans: Matiullah Jan, Asad Ali Toor, Siddique Jan among targeted
Islamabad Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah has ordered YouTube to block 27 YouTube channels in Pakistan, including those of Matiullah Jan, Asad Ali Toor, Siddique Jan, court reporter Saqib Bashir said in a post on X on Tuesday. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) began an inquiry on June 2 when the investigating officer of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency applied to the court to block these YouTube channels. Judge Abbas Shah, in his order, wrote that the court was satisfied with the evidence provided by the FIA and that the subject matter 'constitutes offences punishable under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and Penal Laws of Pakistan'. Other accounts listed included 'Naya Pakistan', 'Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf', 'Rana Uzair Speaks', 'Ahmad Noorani', 'Daily Qudra', and others.
