An Islamabad court has suspended the order to block 27 Pakistani YouTube channels, many of which belong to prominent journalists and media figures. The decision, issued by Additional Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka, has temporarily overturned an earlier directive by Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah, which had instructed YouTube to ban the channels based on a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) request.
Background of the Case
The now-suspended order had cited “anti-state content” as the basis for the ban. The FIA launched an inquiry on June 2, presenting what it claimed was credible evidence of rhetoric that threatened national interests. Channels belonging to journalists such as Asad Toor, Matiullah Jan, Imran Riaz, Moeed Pirzada, Sabir Shakir, and Aftab Iqbal were among those listed.
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The original court decision had accepted the FIA’s evidence and ordered YouTube to act accordingly, asserting that the content was “harmful to the national interest.”
Reversal Seen as a Press Freedom Victory
Today’s suspension is being viewed as a major win for press freedom and digital rights, albeit a temporary one. Journalist Asad Ali Toor, one of the affected parties, called the decision a “big victory” in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He confirmed that his channel, Asad Toor UNCENSORED, and MJtv by Matiullah Jan, would continue to operate for now.
Toor thanked his legal team—including Riasat Ali Azad, Zainab Janjua, Imaan Z. Hazir, Hadia Ali, and digital rights advocate Farieha Aziz—for their defense efforts.
Next Steps Unclear
While the court’s ruling is a positive step for free speech, it is still unclear whether the FIA plans to appeal the decision or pursue additional charges under cybercrime laws. The suspension has, however, ignited renewed debate over freedom of expression and state censorship in Pakistan’s digital space.
