Islamabad Sessions Court Suspends Ban on Five More YouTube Channels

Islamabad – The Sessions Court in Islamabad has suspended the ban on five additional YouTube channels, increasing the number of temporarily unblocked channels to seven. This development follows appeals filed against an earlier court order that had directed the blocking of 27 YouTube channels for allegedly spreading anti-state content.

The hearing was conducted by Additional District and Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka, who reviewed the appeals against the original directive issued by Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah. The magistrate had ordered the blocking of the 27 channels on July 9, 2025, following a petition by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) based on an inquiry that began on June 2.

The FIA had claimed that the content on these channels posed a threat to national security. The court’s original order cited evidence reviewed by the investigating officer, stating that the material potentially violated the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and relevant sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

In response to the appeals, the court has also issued notices to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency, asking for a detailed reply by July 21 as the case remains under judicial review.

Earlier, Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah had issued a two-page order instructing YouTube authorities to block the 27 channels immediately, highlighting the severity of the allegations.

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The court continues to assess the legality of the initial blocking order while allowing temporary relief to some of the affected channels.