ISLAMABAD:
A local court in the federal capital has ordered blocking of 27 YouTube channelsall run by Pakistani journalists and content creatorsin view of their alleged anti-state content.
Islamabad Judicial Magistrate Muhammad Abbas Shah issued a two-page order after hearing a request filed by the newly formed National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). The NCCIA had contended that the channels were involved in propagating false and misleading information against state institutions.
The channels include those run by renowned journalists such as Orya Maqbool Jan, Aftab Iqbal, Mutiullah Jan, Imran Khan Riaz and Asad Toor.
“[This propaganda] is likely to cause fear, panic, disorder and unrest in the general public or society with defamatory and fake remarks. [This also] violates the privacy and harms the dignity of the officials of the state institutions,” it added.
According to the NCCIA, through these channels, the content creators attempted to provoke the general public and armed forces personnel by trying to create a feeling of ill-will among the pillars of state.
In its order, the court noted that after examining the facts and evidence presented by the NCCIA inquiry officer, the court was convinced that the channels were committing offences under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), 2016 and penal laws in the country.
“The head/office in-charge of the Security Department/Custodian of Records to Google LLC, D/A/B YouTube 901 Cherry Avenue, San Bruno, CA 94066 USA is therefore directed to block/remove the said YouTube channel,” the order noted.
