Pakistan court orders YouTube to block channels of ex-PM Imran Khan, journalists
According to notices seen by Arab News, the US-based video-sharing platform said it had received a legal removal request referencing a court order dated June 24, 2025, in Enquiry No. 717/2025.
The list of affected channels includes those of senior journalists Matiullah Jan, Habib Akram, Sabir Shakir, Asad Ali Toor, Ahmed Noorani and at least 20 others, alongside Khan's and PTI's official YouTube channels.
Zulfi Bukhari, a close aide to Khan, told Arab News by phone that PTI's channels had not yet received any formal notification. However, several journalists confirmed receiving takedown notices via YouTube and vowed to challenge the court's directive.
'I am in contact with fellow journalists whose channels have been served with similar notices, and we intend to challenge this in court,' said Habib Akram, a Lahore-based anchor and political commentator, adding the order had been issued without any prior notice or summons from the Islamabad court.
'The decision appears to lack any clear legal basis and seems to be an apparent attempt to suppress independent journalism,' he added.
The order, issued by Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah in Islamabad, instructed YouTube's parent company, Google LLC, to block 27 channels for allegedly violating Pakistan's Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and other penal laws.
'You may choose to act on the said content in term of the aforesaid court order,' read a notice issued by YouTube. 'If you fail to do so, as per our local law obligation, we may comply with the request without further notice to you.'
Asad Ali Toor, a journalist based in Islamabad whose name appears on the list, criticized both the court and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) for acting without giving him a chance to be heard.
'For the past three months, NCCIA has also frozen my and my family's bank accounts without any hearing,' he said.
Toor attributed such actions to his 'critical reporting' on sensitive issues like enforced disappearances and institutional overreach. He said he had previously received notices about specific videos, but this was the first time his entire channel had been targeted.
Matiullah Jan voiced concern about the broader implications of the move.
'I believe YouTube should not block any channel solely on the basis of an inquiry without a court order,' he said. 'If this becomes a norm, it could set a dangerous precedent globally.'
Despite multiple requests, the Ministries of Interior and Information & Broadcasting did not respond to Arab News queries seeking clarification on the government's role in the matter or the legal grounds for the request to YouTube.
The court order referenced by YouTube states that during an inquiry under Section 94 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 'evidence regarding YouTube channels' was deemed necessary, and their content constituted offenses under Pakistan's cybercrime laws.
Digital rights groups and press freedom watchdogs have frequently criticized the Pakistani government for using vague legal provisions to stifle dissent. In its 2024 report, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked Pakistan 152nd out of 180 countries on the World Press
Freedom Index, citing growing censorship, legal harassment of journalists, and tightening control over digital platforms.
Journalists now fear the court-backed move could deepen digital censorship in the country.
'We are not only being silenced, but also criminalized for doing our job,' said Toor. 'This is not just about YouTube. It's about the future of press freedom in Pakistan.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
4 hours ago
- Arab News
India conflict fires up Pakistan's Independence Day fervor, boosts flag sales
KARACHI: Pakistan's largest flag manufacturer, VIP Flags, is expecting around 50 percent growth in sales this year as the public marks the country's 78th Independence Day with unusual zeal, fueled by celebrations of victory in the May 2025 conflict with India. The two nuclear-armed neighbors, which have fought three major wars since 1947, engaged in their deadliest fighting in decades this May. The fighting ended on May 10 after US mediation, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government declaring victory and saying it had downed at least six Indian fighter jets. Officials have since linked the conflict's outcome to the heightened national fervor surrounding August 14 this year, reflected in booming flag markets and sales of other Independence Day paraphernalia. 'Our business, all the businesses have grown 50 percent,' said VIP Flags CEO Nisar Ahmed Sheikh, adding that much of his stock had been sold to marchers rallying in support of Pakistan's armed forces during the war with India. VIP Flags manufactures flags for domestic customers, the armed forces, and international buyers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and holds Guinness World Records for the largest flags made in 2004 and 2008. Sheikh said sales this year would likely run into millions of units. 'Obviously when people were filled with passion [after the war with India] and started hoisting flags, the flags business saw an uptick and increased compared to last year,' he told Arab News. 'It is still growing and people are putting flags on their cars, bicycles and motorcycles.' Sheikh said the surge in sales extended well beyond flags, with market vendors incorporating Independence Day themes into a wide range of products — from shirts, mufflers and headbands to shawls, dresses and children's clothing — creating a vibrant festive atmosphere. 'People must be spending billions of rupees on this (celebrations) and this spending boosts the economy,' the CEO said. In Pakistan's commercial hub of Karachi ahead of Aug. 14, large and small flags adorned vehicles, houses and office buildings, alongside buntings and night-time illuminations. Meanwhile, federal and provincial governments are holding daily events, with top officials like the prime minister and army chief expected to attend ceremonies in Islamabad on Aug. 13 and 14. 'The last time we saw such a show of national zeal on Independence Day was in Zia's time,' Sheikh said, referring to former military ruler Zia-ul-Haq. 'We see people decorating their houses, vehicles and vicinities with flags and buntings and badges.' Abdul Wahab, a finisher at one of Sheikh's factories, said he expected at least a 25 percent income increase this season. 'We are seeing a rush in the market because of this war we recently fought with India,' said the 26-year-old, who plans to work overtime to meet demand. For lawyer Bad-e-Saba, the occasion was a chance to pass on a message to the next generation. 'The war we recently won against Hindustan is a matter of great pride for us. We want to convey it to our children so they could know where we are standing against our enemy,' she said. 'We want to tell our enemies that we can take good care of our country and our next generation will do it better.'
Arab News
5 hours ago
- Arab News
Mortar kills 2 children, mother in northwest Pakistan where troops are targeting militants
KHAR, Pakistan: A mortar struck a home and killed two children and their mother in a northwestern Pakistani region where security forces are carrying out a 'targeted operation ' against the Pakistani Taliban, residents and a hospital official said Wednesday. It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the overnight civilian casualties in Mamund, a town in the Bajaur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan. Naseeb Gul, a medical doctor at a local hospital, said the dead were two children and their mother. Two people were also wounded Tuesday when another mortar hit their home, he said. Angered by the deaths, hundreds of demonstrators were refusing to bury the bodies and demanding an investigation, according to local villager Mohammad Khalid. There was no immediate comment from the government or the military. The latest development came days after security forces launched an offensive in Bajaur to target militant hideouts. The provincial government said the 'targeted operation' was launched after tribal elders failed to evict insurgents from the region. Government officials said the ongoing offensive against the Pakistani Taliban has displaced 25,000 families or an estimated 100,000 people in Bajaur, where authorities eased a curfew on Wednesday, allowing residents to buy essential items. Thousands of displaced people are currently residing in government buildings, and many other have gone to other safer areas to live with relatives. The Bajaur offensive is the second operation there since 2009, when the military launched a large-scale campaign against the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP. The TTP is a separate but a close ally of the Afghan Taliban, who seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021. Many TTP leaders and fighters have found sanctuary in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover and have been living there openly. Some have crossed the border back into Bajaur to carry out attacks.
Arab News
5 hours ago
- Arab News
Pakistan seeks Gulf, regional backing for global plastics treaty at Geneva talks
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has stepped up engagement with Gulf and regional partners on a planned global plastics treaty, holding talks with senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and other states at high-level negotiations in Geneva this week, the ministry of climate change said on Wednesday. The discussions took place during the Fifth Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution (INC-5.2), part of ongoing UN-led efforts to produce the first legally binding international agreement to curb plastic waste. Negotiations have drawn wide participation from governments, industry and civil society, with particular focus on measures to reduce plastic production, boost recycling, and address the mounting environmental and economic costs of plastic pollution. Pakistan has positioned itself as a voice for developing countries in the talks, stressing the need for fairness, financial support and technology transfer to help poorer nations tackle the crisis. Gulf states, several of which are major petrochemical producers, are seen as key stakeholders in shaping the treaty's scope and implementation, both as plastic producers and as potential investors in recycling and waste-management infrastructure. 'The discussions focused on advancing cooperation for a fair and effective Global Plastics Treaty, promoting circular economy solutions, and mobilizing resources to address the disproportionate impacts of plastic pollution on developing countries,' the Pakistani climate ministry said in its statement after Climate Minister Dr. Musadik Malik held an interactive briefing with delegations from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Iran, Azerbaijan, Algeria, and Kuwait. The ministry said the engagements 'formed part of Pakistan's broader diplomatic outreach to build consensus and strengthen partnerships for equitable global environmental action.' The second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-5.2), opened on Aug. 12 in Geneva. The session aims to finalize and approve the text of the agreement and forward it for consideration and adoption at a future Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries. INC-5.2 takes place from 5 – 14 August, follows INC 5, which took place in November/December 2024 in Busan, Republic of Korea. 'Plastic pollution is already in nature, in our oceans and even in our bodies. If we continue as on this trajectory, the whole world will be drowning in plastic pollution – with massive consequences for our planetary, economic and human health,' said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP. 'But this does not have to be our future. Together, we can solve this challenge. Agreeing a treaty text is the first step to beating plastic pollution for everyone, everywhere.' 'We are here today to fulfil an international mandate. This is a unique and historic opportunity for the international community to bridge differences and find common ground. It is not just a test of our diplomacy— it is a test of our collective responsibility to protect the environment, safeguard human health, enable sustainable economies, and stand in solidarity with those most affected by this plastic pollution crisis,' said Luis Vayas Valdivieso, Chair of the INC.
