The prior decision for YouTube to ban Pakistani YouTube channels—many of which are run by well-known journalists and media commentators—has been suspended by an Islamabad court.
The prohibition on two Pakistani YouTube channels, Toor and Matiullah Jan, is being suspended by the new court judgment. We have no idea what is going to happen to the other 25 channels.
Previously, Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah had imposed the blocking of the 27 YouTube channels at the request of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), but the suspension that was issued by Additional Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka pretty much put the ruling on hold. The channels were banned in that order because of alleged “anti-state” material.
High-profile figures including Asad Toor, Matiullah Jan, Imran Riaz, Moeed Pirzada, Sabir Shakir, and Aftab Iqbal were among the channels that were first ordered to be banned. After an FIA investigation into content that was purportedly a threat to national interests, the original court ruling had directed YouTube to take action.
On June 2, the FIA opened an investigation and submitted what it believed to be was solid evidence of anti-state sentiments, as stated by the original written order. Regarding the material as “harmful to the national interest,” the court granted the agency’s request to prohibit the channels on the list after accepting that evidence.
But for the time being at least, today’s reversal represents a win for digital rights and press freedom. One of the applicants, journalist Asad Ali Toor, shared the news on X, referring to the court’s decision as a “big victory.”
Additionally, he said that MJtv of Matiullah Jan and his channel, Asad Toor UNCENSORED, are going to be open to the viewers for the foreseeable future.
Toor showed his appreciation to his legal team, which comprises of digital rights advocate Farieha Aziz, Imaan Z. Hazir, Hadia Ali, Riasat Ali Azad, along with Zainab Janjua.
It is unclear if the FIA would file an appeal or pursue more charges under cybercrime rules, even if the suspension is a positive step for proponents of free expression.
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