On July 8, 2025, an Islamabad judicial magistrate, Abbas Shah, granted a request from the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cyber Crime Wing (via the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency, NCCIA) under Section 37 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016, resulting in YouTube channels banned in Pakistan—specifically, 27 channels accused of disseminating “misleading” and “anti-state” content.
Key Details from the Court Order
- Initiated by FIA’s inquiry beginning June 2, 2025, citing “anti-state content” that posed threats to national unity and public order.
- The court found the FIA’s evidence “satisfactory” and ruled that the content violated PECA and could incite fear, panic, or unrest.
- YouTube (Google LLC) was directed to block or remove the listed channels in Pakistan immediately.
Notable Channels Affected
The blocked channels include those of well-known journalists and media figures:
- Matiullah Jan, Asad Toor, Siddique Jan
- Orya Maqbool Jan, Arzoo Kazmi, Habib Akram
- Imran Riaz Khan, Sabir Shakir, Aftab Iqbal
- Pakistani political entities like Imran Khan’s PTI channel.
Pushback & Legal Responses
Journalists such as Habib Akram and Asad Ali Toor have reported receiving takedown notifications from YouTube and pledged to contest the order legally.
They argue the process lacks transparency—there were no prior hearings or formal opportunities to respond.
“The decision appears to lack any clear legal basis and seems to be an apparent attempt to suppress independent journalism.” — Habib Akram
Read Also: Punjab Launches Digital System to Track School Inspections
Implications & Context
This move highlights Pakistan’s ongoing tightening of digital content regulation, with officials citing national security and public order. Critics argue it risks setting a troubling precedent for censorship and media freedom.
Platform-level cooperation is crucial—experts note that blocking on YouTube’s end is necessary for enforcement, otherwise the order remains symbolic.
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