The district court and sessions of Islamabad annulled on Thursday the order of a judicial magistrate who had directed the closure of several YouTube channels, ruling in favor of 11 creators of content who challenged the movement.
The additional judge of the District and the Muhamad Affzal Majoka sessions set aside the lower court’s ruling while listening to the appeals presented by 11 youtubers, including journalists Matiullah Jan, Asad Toor and Abdul Qadir.
The case arose from an earlier order by a judicial magistrate who directed the blockade of 27 YouTube channels. Of these, 11 content creators approached the court of sessions, arguing that the decision was illegal. Their appeals were listened collectively.
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During the procedure, Judge Majoka expressed his discontent with the prosecutor of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (Nccia), observing that the agency seemed to be changing its responsibilities to the Court. He warned that such practices would not be allowed, questioning the authority under which online platforms could be blocked and warn against attempts at malignant judges.
The court clarified that the requests would only be heard if the applicants or their lawyer were present, while the cases without representation would be dismissed by non -intervention.
After reserving its decision, the Court later announced the verdict in favor of youtubers, declaring the order of the empty magistrate to the extent of the 11 appeals under consideration. The ruling restores access to the YouTube channels of those who challenged the board.
After reserving the verdict, the court ruled in favor of youtubers, declaring the order of the magistrate in relation to the appeals under consideration. This restored access to the channels of those 11 content creators.
In June, the National Cyber Crime Research Agency (NCCIA) launched an investigation into 27 YouTube channels accused of disseminating false and inflammatory content against state institutions.
The investigation found the provocative material and capable of inciting public disturbances. Acting on the request of Nccia under the Law of Prevention of Electronic Crimes, Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah ordered the blockade of the channels, directing Google to eliminate them.
The forbidden channels included those linked to PTI and journalists known as Moeed Pirzada, Asad Ali Toor, Ahmed Noorani, Matiullah Jan, Imran Riaz Khan, Sabir Shakir and Aftab Iqbal.
