Two YouTube channels unblocked by sessions court

ISLAMABAD: On Thursday, the Islamabad Sessions Court Islamabad suspended the judicial order to block YouTube channels. The court’s order pertains to two YouTube channels operated by Asad Toor and Matiullah Jan.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka heard the petition challenging the earlier directive issued by Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah. The earlier court order had ordered the closure of 27 YouTube channels.

The NCCIA Cyber Crime Circle had requested the Judicial Magistrate to block the said Youtube accounts in Pakistan, for “publicly disseminating/propagating false, misleading and fake information against the State Institutions/officials”. The request by the NCCIA was made after the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) inquiry on June 2, while the Judicial Magistrate’s order was issued on June 24.

The list of accounts identified by NCCIA includes the YouTube channel of the opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), as well as renowned journalists such as Habib Akram, Ahmad Noorani, Sabir Shakir and Moeed Pirzada among others. The YouTube account of incarcerated former premier and founder of PTI Imran Khan is also in the list submitted by the NCCIA. Full list of YouTube channels blocked can be found here.

The suspension orders issued today has unblocked two channels run by YouTuber-journalists Matiullah Jan and Asad Toor. The case continues in the District and Sessions Courts, with further proceedings expected.

The petition was filed against the broader order to block multiple channels. The court has yet to decide on the remaining 25 channels.

Also read: YouTube warns 27 Pakistani creators over court order violations