Pakistani court suspends blocking orders on more YouTube channels amid free speech concerns

A Pakistani court on Saturday suspended blocking orders against five more YouTube channels, extending relief to more journalists and content creators targeted in a sweeping government crackdown on online dissent.

The ruling by Additional District and Sessions Judge Islamabad, Afzal Majoka, follows a similar decision on Friday that temporarily lifted a ban on the YouTube channels of prominent journalists Matiullah Jan and Asad Ali Toor.

The five individuals granted relief in Saturday’s hearing include Makhdoom Shahab-ud-Din, Orya Maqbool Jan, Abdul Qadir, Uzair Anwar, and Umair Rafiq. A sixth petitioner, senior journalist Habib Akram, was absent from the proceedings. His petition is scheduled to be heard on July 14.

All these suspensions are interim measures. Final arguments in the case will be heard on July 21.

The 27 YouTube channels, including those of prominent journalists and political commentators, were originally ordered to be blocked by Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah earlier this week. The move came in response to a petition filed by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), which alleged that the channels were disseminating “anti-state material,” “fake news,” and “defamatory content” against state institutions.

While YouTube has not blocked any of the listed channels so far, the platform has notified the creators that their content is under review in light of the court's directive.

During Friday’s hearing, Judge Majoka pointed out procedural flaws in the original blocking orders. He noted that the petitioners had not been granted an opportunity to respond before the action was taken — a violation of their constitutional rights to due process and free expression.

The judge described the initial orders as “self-contradictory,” noting that relief had been granted to the NCCIA without hearing the affected parties. He also questioned the jurisdiction of the magistrate, stating that under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), such authority lies with the yet-to-be-formed Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority.

With Saturday’s ruling, eight review petitions have now been filed and suspension orders have been granted in seven cases. The federal government has been directed to submit its response by the next hearing on July 21.

Sweeping new controls

The ban originated from a petition filed in early June by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), which accused the YouTube channels of “spreading fake news” and inciting “fear, panic, disorder, or unrest” through content critical of state institutions.

PTI had earlier condemned the court’s move, calling it a “serious attack on freedom of expression” and part of a broader crackdown on dissent.

“This is yet another blow to press freedom in Pakistan,” the party said in a statement, adding that it would challenge the order both domestically and abroad, including in U.S. courts.

In January, amendments to the PECA introduced sweeping new controls over online content in Pakistan.

A key addition is the criminalization of "false and fake information," punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine — a move critics fear could be used to target journalists, activists, and political opponents.

The law also granted expanded powers to the newly created Social Media Regulation and Protection Authority, allowing it to block or remove content based on vague criteria without judicial oversight.