Court Order Suspending Ban on Pakistani YouTube Channels

An Islamabad court has decided to temporarily suspend the earlier directive that had asked YouTube to block several Pakistani channels. This includes the popular channels run by journalists Asad Ali Toor and Matiullah Jan, which will now remain accessible. The status of the remaining 25 channels, however, is still unclear.

This new decision came from Additional Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka, who overruled a previous order issued by Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah. That earlier ruling, based on a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) request, had cited “anti-state” content as the reason for the blocks.

Channels like those of Imran Riaz, Moeed Pirzada, Sabir Shakir, and Aftab Iqbal were also named in the original list. The FIA had initiated an inquiry on June 2, presenting what it described as evidence of content threatening national interests, which the court had initially accepted.

For now, the suspension is being seen as a win for press freedom. Asad Toor expressed his relief on X, calling it a “big victory” and crediting his legal team, including Farieha Aziz and Imaan Z. Hazir, for their efforts. Whether the FIA will challenge the suspension remains to be seen.