Pakistan court suspends YouTube ban on prominent journalists

A Pakistani court on Friday suspended a controversial order blocking YouTube channels linked to two prominent journalists, Matiullah Jan and Asad Ali Toor.

The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) court in the capital Islamabad had earlier this week ordered the ban of 27 YouTube channels, citing the spread of “anti-state material” and “defamatory content” against state institutions.

Channels affected included those of journalists Jan, Toor, Imran Riaz Khan, Sabir Shakir, and Aftab Iqbal, along with Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party account. Others named in the list were Ahmad Noorani, Moeed Pirzada, Wajahat S. Khan, Haider Mehdi, Siddique Jaan, Orya Maqbool Jan, Sabee Kazmi, and Shayan Ali, among others.

Petitioners Jan and Toor argued that the ban violated their constitutional rights to free speech and a fair trial. They said they were not given an opportunity to respond to the allegations or defend their content.

They also challenged the jurisdiction of the judicial magistrate who issued the blocking order, noting that under PECA, such authority rests with the yet-to-be-constituted Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority.

The initial court order directed Google LLC, which operates YouTube, to restrict access to the listed channels.

The hearing

A detailed order released Friday afternoon by Additional District and Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka stated that the journalists had not been given any prior notice or opportunity to respond before the order was issued — a clear violation of their constitutional right to a fair hearing.

The judge also noted inconsistencies in Magistrate Abbas Shah’s original order from Tuesday. While the order stated “allowed,” it subsequently granted relief to the respondent without hearing the petitioners. The judge called the orders “self-contradictory” and found that due process had not been followed.

Judge Majoka observed that the blocking order appeared to be issued without proper legal procedure and without allowing the affected parties to present their case. As a result, he admitted the petition for a full hearing and temporarily suspended implementation of the blocking order.

The government has been directed to submit its response at the next hearing scheduled for July 21, 2025.

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.