Censorship case: Islamabad court suspends ban on 5 more YouTube channels

Islamabad (Web Desk):  In a significant development in the case concerning the suspension of 27 prominent YouTube channels, a district court in Islamabad has temporarily lifted the ban on five more content creators.

The ruling was issued by Additional District and Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka, who heard appeals filed by Makhdum Shahabuddin, Orya Maqbool Jan, Abdul Qadir, Uzair Anwar, and Umair Rafiq. The appeals challenged an earlier decision by Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah, who had ordered the closure of their YouTube channels based on a request from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

The court observed that the channels were blocked without giving the appellants a chance to be heard, which constitutes a violation of due legal process and fundamental rights. As a result, the ban on these five channels has been temporarily suspended.

Meanwhile, the hearing on senior journalist Habib Akram’s appeal was postponed due to his absence. The court has summoned him for a hearing and arguments on July 14.

It is worth noting that just days earlier, the same court also suspended the ban on the channels of journalists Matiullah Jan and Asad Toor, whose lawyers argued that they had not been notified or given a fair opportunity to respond—violating Article 10-A of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to a fair trial.

On July 8, Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah had ordered the blocking of 27 YouTube channels, citing an FIA investigation alleging that the platforms were spreading anti-state content.