ISLAMABAD: Sharing of what was described as objectionable content on popular website YouTube has caught the attention of the Supreme Court which asked Attorney General Khalid Jawed Khan and the Foreign Office to assist it in the matter.

A three-judge SC bench consisting of Justice Mushir Alam, Justice Qazi Muham­mad Amin Ahmed and Justice Aminud Din Khan on Wednesday took notice of the offensive content on the video-sharing platform while hearing a bail petition of accused Shaukat Ali in a sectarian case.

“The people of this country have a right to comment on the performance of the judiciary and the judgements we deliver and we do not have any objection or problem with the right to freedom of the speech, but unfortunately social media did not spare the families of the judges. Our salaries come from public money but at the same time the Constitution ensures the right to our private lives,” Justice Qazi Amin observed.

He regretted that the people using the social media platform “become uncles” and incite people against the judiciary, the armed forces and the government. He recalled that the Supreme Court had announced a judgement the other day which was then discussed on YouTube. “We are showing restraint but this has to come to an end.”

Apex court wonders if FIA, PTA ever examined what is going on over popular video-sharing website

The apex court wondered whether the Federal Investigation Agency and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had ever taken notice of what was going on in YouTube.

Justice Mushir Alam asked if anyone could dare uploading objectionable material against the United States or the European Union and said YouTube was banned in many countries. He recalled how social media platforms were controlled through local laws in many countries.

A representative of the PTA informed the court that though they could report objectionable content, they could not remove individual contents from the video-sharing website. Postponing the proceedings for an indefinite period, the court issued notices to the attorney general and the Foreign Office.

Meanwhile, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Digital Pakistan Tania Aidrus said in a tweet: “Banning a platform like YouTube is not a solution. The 3 years when YouTube was banned in Pakistan it held back our content creator ecosystem which has just started to flourish now, creating employment opportunities for thousands.”

The PTA had on Sept 17, 2012 banned YouTube in the country after the operator refused to remove an anti-Islamic film from the website.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2020