In early July 2025, an Islamabad court caused a stir by ordering that 27 prominent blocked youtube channels be blocked in Pakistan. The channels, operated by journalists, political figures, and activists, were accused of airing content deemed “anti-state” and spreading misleading or provocative narratives. This decision marks a significant escalation in Pakistan’s ongoing digital censorship campaign—a move bound to provoke debates about free speech, legal due process, and digital rights.
Table of Contents
1. The Day of the Ruling
On July 8, 2025, Islamabad’s Judicial Magistrate Muhammad Abbas Shah delivered a decisive order: 27 YouTube channels were officially labeled as blocked youtube channels, with YouTube (via Google) instructed to remove access to them in Pakistan youtube.com+8dawn.com+8geo.tv+8geo.tv+5tribune.com.pk+5indiatoday.in+5. The court ruled the content as “fake, misleading, defamatory, highly provocative, and derogatory” against state institutions including the military and government dawn.com+2dawn.com+2reuters.com+2.
In response, YouTube notified the affected creators: “If you fail to comply, as per our local law obligations, we may comply with the request without further notice,” reinforcing that failure to act would result in their channels becoming officially blocked youtube channels youtube.com+3reuters.com+3dawn.com+3.
2. Who Are the Channels?
The 27 blocked youtube channels included content from:
- Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and PTI
- Journalists like Matiullah Jan, Asad Toor, Imran Riaz Khan, Orya Maqbool Jan, Sabir Shakir, Moeed Pirzada, Ahmad Noorani
- Influential talk show hosts like Aftab Iqbal, Habib Akram, and others geo.tv+1dawn.com+1yahoo.com+7indiatoday.in+7dawn.com+7.
They primarily criticized government institutions, discussed judicial and military overreach, and highlighted alleged human rights abuses—content that the court deemed provocative enough to justify the designation as blocked youtube channels.
3. Legal Grounding: PECA & FIA
This fallout traces back to June 2, 2025, when the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) submitted a report under Section 37 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) of 2016. The agencies argued these channels stoked unrest and violated privacy and dignity of state officials dawn.com+9dawn.com+9tribune.com.pk+9.
Their recommendation: the 27 channels should be officially blocked youtube channels, prompting Magistrate Abbas Shah to declare them so. USA-based Google was asked to implement the block swiftly, making these channels effectively blocked youtube channels in Pakistan dunyanews.tv+1indiatoday.in+1.
4. Why Now?
Pakistan has amped up its digital censorship over recent years. This includes previous bans on TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and other platforms. With the 2025 PECA amendments, the government established stronger cyber-regulatory agencies empowered to expedite takedown requests—leading to more blocked YouTube channels in other cases too .
The spike in digital crackdown comes amid a crackdown on dissent and media freedoms, marking a clear trend where online spaces become the frontline for resistance—and government control.
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5. Reactions & Backlash
Free Speech Advocates
Digital rights activists slammed the decision. Usama Khilji of the Digital Rights Foundation stated the court “did not fulfil due process,” questioning how entire channels became blocked youtube channels without notifying creators reuters.com+1dawn.com+1.
HRCP Response
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) labeled the broad blocking “deeply concerning,” calling it a blanket suppression of dissent—turning legitimate critique into blocked youtube channels dawn.com+1reuters.com+1.
Affected Creators
Journalists like Asad Toor (with 333k+ subscribers) condemned the move, calling it a dictatorial attempt to suppress “underdogs” and labeling the channels now as blocked youtube channels to stifle public dissent reuters.com.
Political Fallout
PTI spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari lamented that in a democratic nation, digital censorship of critics only “undermines free expression” and that more channels would be designated blocked youtube channels if unchecked reuters.com.
6. Technical Challenges
Experts note court orders alone can’t globally block channels unless YouTube cooperates; enforcement within Pakistan relies on ISPs applying geo-blocks. Without platform compliance, many channels may still escape becoming fully blocked youtube channels indiatoday.in.
7. The Bigger Picture
Trend of Digital Authoritarianism
Pakistan’s move mirrors other countries like India that have previously blocked YouTube channels under “national security” claims—marking a broader shift in how states control dissent via internet platforms .
Shrinking Public Square
Traditional media in Pakistan already faces constraints. As it tightens control over digital media, journalists and activists find fewer public outlets—many end up echoing their critiques through now-blocked youtube channels, increasing risk and censorship .
Rule of Law Concerns
Critics emphasize how this case reflects weak judicial due process. No hearing, no appeals—the channels became blocked youtube channels without so much as prior notice. This sets a worrying standard.
8. What Happens Next?
- Appeals are likely: Creators plan legal challenges, appealing in higher courts to untag their channels as blocked youtube channels.
- Potential platform pushback: YouTube may resist overreach, choosing to enforce blocks only where lawfully required.
- Public & international scrutiny: Local and global media organizations, like HRCP, will increase pressure against turning dissent into blocked youtube channels.
9. Conclusion
Pakistan’s decision to classify 27 prominent channels as blocked youtube channels marks a pivotal step in expanding the state’s control over digital speech. It showcases broader tensions between national security prerogatives and press freedoms, spotlighting how online platforms have become collateral in political battles.
As creators mount legal defenses and international advocacy steps in, the fate of these blocked youtube channels will chart the future of digital dissent in Pakistan
