On Friday, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) published a clarification, declaring that a press release circulating on social networks concerning a ban by Youtube is exceeded and dates back to 2012. The PTA has urged the public to ignore misleading information.
In a press release, the telecommunications regulator explained that the press release, which resurfaced online, created confusion on the current operational status of Youtube in Pakistan. “He came to the attention of the PTA that a former press release on the closure of Youtube in Pakistan, initially issued in September 2012 following the ordinances of the Supreme Court, is being recirculation,” the statement said.
The initial ban was applied by the Minister of the time, Raja Pervez Ashraf in response to demonstrations against the controversial film Muslims innocence. However, the PTA confirmed that the 2012 press release was no longer relevant.
“The PTA specifies that the content in traffic is obsolete and out of words for current circumstances,” said authority. “Currently, no instruction has been issued by PTA to block or stop YouTube or any other social media platform.”
The PTA also advised the public to verify this information through official channels, including its website and verified social media handles.
In related news, India recently blocked more than two dozen Pakistani YouTubes channels for having pretended to spread the “provocative” content following an attack in Jammu-Cachemire of Indian origin (IIOJK).
The eminent Pakistani media canals such as Express, Dawn, Samaa TV, Ary News, Bol News and Geo News have been affected, as well as social media accounts of various Pakistani personalities, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and athletes like Shahid Afridi and Babar Azam.
The channels blocked in India displayed a message citing a “government order linked to national security or public order”.
