Judge orders blocking of 27 YouTube channels
ISLAMABAD: A judge in the federal capital has ordered YouTube to block 27 channels, including PTI’s official account, for disseminating “fake, misleading, and defamatory” content against the government and armed forces, it emerged on Tuesday.
The sanctioned accounts were being run by journalists, political commentators and social media influencers in Pakistan and overseas.
The 27 YouTube channels included PTI, Imran Riaz Khan, Sabir Shakir, Matiullah Jan (MJtv), Asad Toor, Wajahat Saeed Khan, Ahmad Noorani, Moeed Pirzada, Orya Maqbool Jan, Aftab Iqbal, Sajid Gondal, Arzoo Kazmi / Sabee Kazmi, Rana Uzair Speaks, Naya Pakistan / Daily Qudrat / Real Entertainment TV, Habib Akram, Naila Pakistani Reaction, Abdul Qadir, Charsadda Journalist, Nazar Chohan, Makhdoom Shahabuddin, Shayan Ali, Siddique Jaan and Haider Mehdi.
In the order dated June 24, FIA Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah said the prosecution submitted sufficient evidence to justify the blocking of these accounts.
Several journalists, PTI’s official channel also on the list; accounts accused of sharing defamatory, misleading information targeting state institutions, forces
The accused were under investigation by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).
The judge invoked Section 37 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, which empowered the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to remove or block online content deemed unlawful on grounds including national security, public order, and defamation.
YouTube and its parent company have been ordered to “block or remove” the channels from the platform.
According to the court documents, the NCCIA investigation concluded that the YouTube channels were engaged in defamation and the dissemination of false and misleading information targeting the state of Pakistan and its officials.
The content posted on these channels could incite unrest and likely to cause “fear, panic, disorder or unrest” in society, the documents claimed.
The court also observed these channels were violating the privacy and dignity of state officials by sharing personal information. The content was “provocative, distributing, highly intimidating and derogatory”.
Earlier, on June 24, NCCIA Sub-Inspector Waseem Khan informed the judge that, under Section 37 of Peca, the agency was conducting an inquiry against these 27 channels for allegedly disseminating and propagating fake and misleading information against state institutions, Dawn.com reported.
He said that through their channels, the suspects had “attempted to provoke the general public and armed forces personnel by trying to create a feeling of ill-will among pillars of the state”.
SI Khan had requested the court to issue a warrant or subpoena to Google to remove or block these channels.
“In the light of facts explained and evidence presented by the IO, this court is convinced that the subject matter constitutes offences punishable under the Peca and penal laws of Pakistan,” Judicial Magistrate Shah noted in the order.
Journalist Asad Toor, whose channel was included in the list, said he had received a notice from YouTube, informing him about the order to remove his channel.
“You may choose to act on the said content in terms of the aforesaid court order. If you fail to do so, as per our local law obligations, we may comply with the request without further notice to you,” said the notice shared by Mr Toor on his official X account on Tuesday.
Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2025