A local court in Islamabad has ordered the blocking of 27 Pakistani YouTube channels, including those run by journalists, political commentators, and media influencers. The move comes after the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cyber Crime Wing submitted evidence against the channels, citing the spread of anti-state content and violations of cyber laws.
Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah issued the ruling during a hearing on the FIA’s petition. The court directed YouTube’s officer-in-charge to block the channels immediately. YouTube has received the directive and notified the content creators accordingly.
List of Blocked Youtube Channels in Pakistan
The list includes major names:
- Journalists and Commentators: Asad Toor Uncensored, Matiullah Jan, Imran Riaz Khan, Siddique Jan, Sabir Shakir, Aftab Iqbal, Moeed Pirzada, Orya Maqbool Jan, Haider Mehdi, Arzoo Kazmi, Wajahat Saeed Khan, and Habib Akram
- Political/Party-Linked: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) official channel, Naya Pakistan
- Others with high engagement and subscriber counts were also part of the 27 banned YouTube accounts.
According to the FIA’s petition, the blocked channels were spreading disinformation, creating distrust against national institutions, and uploading content that could incite unrest. The agency initiated an investigation on June 2, 2025, collecting video evidence, content transcripts, and digital footprints of the accused channels. The FIA relied on provisions from the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) to support its request.
Several affected YouTubers began seeking legal counsel. Speaking to HamariWeb, journalist and YouTuber Asad Toor said:
“An inquiry was initiated against me, but I was neither summoned nor heard. I’ll consult with my legal adviser to decide what to do next. In the past, complaints were sent to YouTube about my videos, but this is the first time there’s been an official move to block my entire channel along with others.”
Asad Toor runs the channel “Asad Toor Uncensored,” known for political commentary and reporting on missing persons.
 Cyber Crime Wing submitted evidence against the channels, citing the spread of anti-state content and violations of cyber laws.){kind=link}