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September 11, 2025 - Comments Off on Court Overturns Ban on YouTube Channels

Court Overturns Ban on YouTube Channels

An Islamabad sessions court has set aside a lower court’s order to block 27 YouTube channels, granting relief to 11 petitioners. The original order, issued in June, had targeted channels run by journalists and political commentators for allegedly spreading “fake, misleading, and defamatory” content against the government and armed forces. During the hearing, Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka expressed anger at the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency’s prosecutor, questioning the legal authority to shut down channels and accusing the agency of attempting to misuse the judiciary. The judge’s decision to overturn the ban for the petitioners is a significant victory for freedom of speech and highlights the judiciary's role in safeguarding digital rights against potential overreach by state agencies.

 

September 10, 2025 - Comments Off on Senate Panel Rules Many PECA Cases Illegal

Senate Panel Rules Many PECA Cases Illegal

A Senate Standing Committee, chaired by Senator Syed Ali Zafar, has ruled that 378 cases registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) by provincial authorities are illegal and must be withdrawn immediately. The committee emphasized that PECA should not be used as a tool for censorship against journalists or the public. According to a report from the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), 1,214 cases have been registered nationwide, with ten against journalists.

 

 

May 9, 2025 - Comments Off on X Pushes Back Against Indian Government’s Censorship Orders

X Pushes Back Against Indian Government’s Censorship Orders

Social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has pushed back against executive orders from the Indian government demanding the blocking of over 8,000 accounts, including those of journalists, international media, and prominent users.

In a statement, X revealed it was threatened with fines and imprisonment of staff in India if it failed to comply. The platform is withholding some accounts locally but has publicly opposed the orders, calling them vague, unjustified, and a threat to free speech.

X emphasized the importance of transparency and urged impacted users to seek legal relief, noting that it is currently restricted by Indian law from challenging the orders itself.

The move comes amid India’s escalating conflict with Pakistan, during which it has already blocked several Pakistani news outlets and voices online.

Following this statement, fact-checkers reported that the X account @GlobalAffairs (via which the statement was published) has also been withheld in India.

Media organizations blocked in India so far are Maktoob Media, The Kashmiriyat, The Wire.in and Free Press Kashmir. The Wire.in  has called this a “clear violation of the Constitutional guarantee of freedom of the press.”

Source: https://tribune.com.pk/story/2544747/x-refuses-indias-request-to-block-8000-accounts

May 8, 2025 - Comments Off on Meta Blocks Muslim News Page in India Amid Escalating Tensions

Meta Blocks Muslim News Page in India Amid Escalating Tensions

Meta has restricted access to the @Muslim Instagram account (6.7M followers) in India following a legal request from the Indian government. The platform cited its policy of complying with content restrictions that allegedly violate local laws.

Ameer Al-Khatahtbeh, the page’s founder, condemned the move as censorship, saying: “When platforms and countries try to silence media, it tells us that we are doing our job.”

The ban comes amid India’s broader crackdown on Pakistani digital content during its conflict with Pakistan. Indian authorities have already blocked accounts of Pakistani actors, cricketers, and over a dozen YouTube channels.

Meta has not commented further but directed media to its standard legal compliance page. The development occurs as violence escalates between the nuclear-armed neighbors, prompting global concern over regional stability.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/08/meta-instagram-muslim-news-page

May 7, 2025 - Comments Off on Partial Restoration of X (Twitter) Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions

Partial Restoration of X (Twitter) Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions

After months of state-imposed restrictions, access to X (formerly Twitter) has been partially restored in Pakistan without the use of VPNs or proxies. The platform had been largely inaccessible since the February 2024 general elections, forcing millions to rely on third-party tools.

 

This development comes amid escalating military tensions with India. Earlier this week, DG ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry confirmed Indian airstrikes on six Pakistani locations, resulting in civilian casualties. In response, Pakistan reportedly shot down five Indian aircraft that had entered via Indian airspace.

Source: https://tribune.com.pk/story/2544463/access-to-x-partially-restored-in-pakistan

May 1, 2025 - Comments Off on Pakistani FM stations halt Indian music amid rising tensions

Pakistani FM stations halt Indian music amid rising tensions

Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has lauded the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) for its decision to stop playing Indian songs on local FM radio stations, calling it a “patriotic gesture” in light of escalating cross-border tensions.

The move follows accusations by India linking Pakistan to the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which left 26 civilians dead. While Islamabad has denied involvement, diplomatic unease and military alerts have intensified across both sides of the border. In an official letter, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting commended the PBA’s “principled decision,” stating it reflects national unity and supports the government’s efforts to uphold “dignity and sovereignty” during a critical time.

The announcement comes shortly after India banned multiple Pakistani YouTube and Instagram accounts, including those of well-known entertainers like Mahira Khan and Ali Zafar, as part of a broader crackdown on Pakistani content.

April 29, 2025 - Comments Off on India blocks 16 Pakistani YouTube channels

India blocks 16 Pakistani YouTube channels

In a move raising concerns about cross-border censorship, the Indian government blocked 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including those run by major media outlets, independent journalists, and public figures.

The Ministry of Home Affairs reportedly recommended the bans, which have affected media organisations such as Dawn News, ARY News, Samaa TV, Geo News, and content creators and journalists including Shoaib Akhtar, Asma Shirazi, and Muneeb Farooq. Popular podcast ‘The Pakistan Experience’ by comedian Shehzad Ghias has also been blocked.

Viewers in India attempting to access these channels are now met with a notice citing government orders related to “national security or public order.” Indian tech journalist Aditi Agarwal noted the legal basis for the bans remains unclear.

April 12, 2025 - Comments Off on Journalist Junaid Sagar Qureshi Booked Under PECA for ‘False and Provocative’ Video

Journalist Junaid Sagar Qureshi Booked Under PECA for ‘False and Provocative’ Video

Journalist Junaid Sagar Qureshi was booked on Saturday under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 over a video statement that police termed “provocative and false,” according to a police spokesperson.

The FIR, filed by ASI Tariq Mumtaz, states that the complainant saw the video on WhatsApp, in which Qureshi alleged that a dumper ran over a woman in the jurisdiction of the Sir Syed Police Station, triggering public outrage and a violent response involving stone-pelting that injured police officials, including a station house officer.

Upon investigation, authorities stated that no such incident had occurred, and both the claim of the woman being run over and the attack on police were found to be false. As a result, an FIR was registered against Qureshi under Section 21 of PECA, which pertains to spreading false and malicious information.

Since its introduction in 2016, PECA has drawn widespread criticism from rights groups, journalists, and civil society, who have described it as a “black law” used to suppress dissent and curtail press freedom. Over the years, it has been repeatedly invoked against journalists, political workers, and digital rights activists.

Qureshi is the latest in a string of journalists to be booked under PECA in recent weeks. On March 20, Farhan Mallick, founder of Raftar and former Samaa TV news director, was arrested for allegedly running “anti-state” content on YouTube. He was charged under both PECA and the Pakistan Penal Code.

Shortly after, Waheed Murad, a journalist with Urdu News, was also arrested under Sections 9, 10, 20, and 26A of PECA for allegedly glorifying an offence and spreading fake information online.

Earlier this month, a police officer in Karachi was similarly booked under PECA for making derogatory remarks against President Asif Ali Zardari.

These recent cases reflect a worrying trend of increased use of PECA against journalists and dissenting voices, prompting fresh calls for reforms to ensure the protection of press freedom and digital rights in Pakistan.

April 11, 2025 - Comments Off on CM Murad announces special unit to tackle social media misuse cases

CM Murad announces special unit to tackle social media misuse cases

In the 32nd Apex Committee Meeting held at CM House on Thursday, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah announced the establishment of a special unit to address cases and complaints regarding the misuse of social media.

 

The unit, which will be called the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority, will be created under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), and is to be set up within the Home Department. This new authority will regulate content, manage platform operations, and ensure the removal of harmful online material. It will involve collaboration among all federal agencies, including the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, the Federal Investigation Agency,  and the provincial police.

March 31, 2025 - Comments Off on Man arrested over allegedly blasphemous Facebook post in Toba Tek Singh

Man arrested over allegedly blasphemous Facebook post in Toba Tek Singh

A man was arrested by the Kamalia police in a raid on Sunday, under charges of posting allegedly blasphemous content on his Facebook page. The police moved the suspect to an undisclosed location.
According to the FIR, the case was filed under Section 295-A of the Pakistan Penal Code deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs). The arrest was made following a complaint by Sub-Inspector Muhammad Amer, acting on information about the post. Sub Inspector Amer also claimed that “blasphemous” material was recovered from the suspect’s phone.