27 famous YouTube channels, owned by a number of well-known Pakistani journalists and media figures, were recently ordered to be suspended by an Islamabad district court.
Showing concern over supposed anti-state content, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) sought an injunction.
The hearing on the request of FIA, was presided over by Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah. After the request was approved by the court, YouTube was advised to take action at once.
Among the 27 famous Pakistani YouTube channels that were suspended are Matiullah Jan, Asad Toor, Siddique Jan, Orya Maqbool Jan, Arzoo Kazmi, Habib Akram, Imran Riaz, Sabir Shakir, Aftab Iqbal, as well as Moeed Pirzada.
1 Haider Mehdi
2 Siddique Jaan
3 Sabee Kazmi
4 Orya Maqbool Jan
5 Arzoo Kazmi
6 Rana Uzair Speaks
7 Sajid Gondal
8 Habib Akram
9 Matiullah Jan MJtv
10 Asad Toor Uncensored
11 Imran Raza Khan
12 Naya Pakistan
13 Sabir Shakir
14 Imran Khan
15 Aftab Iqbal
16 Real entertainment tv
17 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
18 Daily Qudrat
19 Abdul Qadir
20 Charsadda Journalist
21 Naila Pakistani Reaction
22 Wajahat Saeed Khan YouTube
23 Ahmad Noorani YouTube
24 Nazar Chohan YouTube
25 Moeed Pirzada YouTube
26 Makhdoom Shahabud Din YouTube
27 Shayan Ali YouTube
The two-page court decision states that the FIA began investigating the posting of purportedly anti-state content on these sites on June 2. The court acted after the agency provided evidence to back up its allegations.
The order said that legal action might be conducted in compliance with the law and mentioned that the court regarded the FIA’s evidence to be adequate. The court stressed that because of the possible harm to the national interest posed by the content being produced on these channels, intervention was necessary.
The court ordered YouTube’s officer-in-charge to make sure the 27 designated channels were blocked. The action is a major step in the state’s continued examination of digital content and its control for national security reasons.
