An Islamabad court has ordered the blocking of 27 YouTube channels for allegedly broadcasting anti-state material and spreading “false, misleading, and fake” information, it emerged on Tuesday.
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Received this from @YouTube. State think they can silent us but I assure everybody that I will keep covering Balochs, Missing persons, Blasphemy gang victims, minorities, fundamental rights, compromised judges, rigged elections, hybrid regime & unconditional role of forces. pic.twitter.com/yim0m5MfDH— Asad Ali Toor (@AsadAToor) July 8, 2025
The federal government has also established the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) under the Interior Division to investigate illicit online activities. The NCCIA now plays a key role in tackling cybercrime across Pakistan.
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Sub-Inspector Waseem Khan of the NCCIA’s Cyber Crime Circle informed Judicial Magistrate Muhammad Abbas Shah on June 24 that the agency was investigating 27 YouTube channels under Section 37 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, which pertains to unlawful online content. The channels, he claimed, were involved in spreading disinformation aimed at creating fear, unrest, and discrediting state institutions and their officials.
Among the channels named are those linked to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), as well as those run by journalists Matiullah Jan, Wajahat Khan, Ahmad Noorani, and Asad Ali Toor, and former TV anchors Imran Riaz, Orya Maqbool Jan, Sabir Shakir, and Moeed Pirzada.
According to SI Khan, the content shared by these channels included “highly intimidating, provocative, and derogatory” material targeting state institutions, with attempts to stir discontent among the public and within the armed forces.
He requested the court to issue a warrant or subpoena to Google to block or remove the specified YouTube channels.
After reviewing the evidence, Magistrate Shah ruled that the material in question constituted offenses punishable under PECA and other Pakistani laws. In his June 24 order, he directed the relevant authorities at Google to block the listed channels.
Earlier today, journalist Asad Ali Toor said he had received a notification from YouTube regarding a legal request under the court order. The notice warned that if the user did not voluntarily act on the content, YouTube may comply with the order under local legal obligations.
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In a related case, Farhan Mallick, founder of media agency Raftar and former news director at Samaa TV, was arrested on March 20 in Karachi under PECA and the Pakistan Penal Code for allegedly posting anti-state content. His arrest drew strong condemnation from journalist groups and human rights advocates.
Mallick was later granted bail in April in several cases linked to the accusations, which also included alleged data theft via a call center.