The district and sessions of the Islamabad court canceled on Thursday the order of a judicial magistrate who had ordered the closure of several YouTube channels, in favor of 11 content creators who disputed this decision.
The additional judge of the district and the Muhammad Afzal Majoka sessions canceled the decision of the lower court while hearing calls filed by 11 YouTubers, including journalists Matiullah Jan, Asad Toor and Abdul Qadir.
The case came from an earlier order by a judicial magistrate leading the blocking of 27 YouTube channels. Among these, 11 content creators approached the sessions court, arguing that the decision was illegal. Their calls were heard collectively.
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During the procedure, Judge Majoka expressed his dissatisfaction with the prosecutor of the National Agency of Inquiry on Cybercrime (NCCIA), observing that the agency seemed to move its responsibilities in the court. He warned that such practices would not be authorized, questioning the authority under which the online platforms could be blocked and warned against the attempts of slander of the judges.
The court said that petitions would only be heard if the applicants or their advice were present, while business without representation would be rejected for non-pursuance.
After reserving its decision, the court later announced the verdict in favor of the youtubers, declaring the ordinance of the zero magistrate to the extent of the 11 calls for study. The decision restores access to the YouTube channels of those who disputed the directive.
After reserving the verdict, the court ruled in favor of the Youtubers, declaring the ordinance of the null magistrate in relation to the calls for study. This access restored to the channels of these 11 content creators.
In June, the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) launched an investigation into 27 YouTube channels accused of having propagated false and inflammatory content against state institutions.
The survey revealed the material provocateur capable of encouraging public disorders. Acting on the Petition of the NCCIA under the law on the prevention of electronic crimes, the judicial magistrate Abbas Shah ordered the blocking of the channels, ordering Google to delete them.
The prohibited channels included those linked to PTI and well -known journalists like Moeed Pirzada, Asad Ali Toor, Ahmed Noorani, Matiullah Jan, Imran Riaz Khan, Sabir Shakir and Aftab Iqbal.
