PFUJ recalls November 3, 2007 emergency as Pakistan’s darkest day
November 03, 2025: PFUJ recalls November 3, 2007, as Pakistan’s darkest day under Musharraf, urging protection for journalists and the abolition of laws threatening press freedom.
JournalismPakistan.com | Published 3 months ago | JP Staff Report
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ISLAMABAD – In a significant development, Additional Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka on Friday suspended the blanket ban on 27 YouTube channels, including those operated by high-profile journalists and political commentators.
The ban, initially imposed on July 8, 2025, by a judicial magistrate in Islamabad, was based on a petition filed by the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). The petition alleged that the channels were disseminating “anti-state” and “provocative” content. The action followed an inquiry initiated by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on June 2, 2025.
Among the affected were YouTube channels belonging to: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan, journalists Imran Riaz Khan, Matiullah Jan, Siddique Jan, Asad Toor, Sabir Shakir, Moeed Pirzada, Orya Maqbool Jan, Ahmad Noorani, Abdul Qadir, Aftab Iqbal, and Wajahat Saeed Khan, and political platforms such as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Naya Pakistan, Qudrat Pakistan, and Real Entertainment TV.
Legal representation for journalists Matiullah Jan and Asad Toor was provided by Advocates Riasat Ali Azad and Imaan Mazari, who argued that their clients had not been served any prior notice before the ban.
The court observed that neither journalist had been issued a legal notice regarding the restrictions on their digital platforms. YouTube had informed several of the targeted individuals that their channels were subject to closure. In response, journalists, including Matiullah Jan and Asad Toor, submitted written explanations to the platform.
The judge ordered the immediate suspension of the ban and issued a notice to the NCCIA for the next hearing. The ruling emphasized the importance of due process, stating that unilateral digital censorship without prior notice or a fair hearing violates fundamental rights.
اسلام آباد – ایڈیشنل سیشن جج افضل مجوکہ نے جمعہ کے روز 27 یوٹیوب چینلز پر عائد پابندی معطل کر دی، جن میں ممتاز صحافیوں اور سیاسی مبصرین کے چینلز شامل تھے۔
یہ پابندی 8 جولائی 2025 کو اسلام آباد کے ایک جوڈیشل مجسٹریٹ کے حکم پر لگائی گئی تھی، جو نیشنل سائبر کرائم انویسٹی گیشن ایجنسی (NCCIA) کی جانب سے دائر درخواست کی بنیاد پر دی گئی۔ درخواست میں ان چینلز پر "ریاست مخالف" اور "اشتعال انگیز" مواد پھیلانے کا الزام عائد کیا گیا تھا۔ یہ کارروائی 2 جون 2025 کو ایف آئی اے کی جانب سے شروع کی گئی انکوائری کے بعد عمل میں آئی۔
جن مشہور افراد کے چینلز بند کیے گئے ان میں شامل تھے:
سابق وزیراعظم عمران خان
صحافی عمران ریاض خان، مطیع اللہ جان، صدیق جان، اسد طور، صابر شاکر، معید پیرزادہ، اوریا مقبول جان، احمد نورانی، عبدالقادر، آفتاب اقبال، اور وجاہت سعید خان
سیاسی پلیٹ فارمز جیسے کہ پاکستان تحریک انصاف، نیا پاکستان، قدرت پاکستان، اور ریئل انٹرٹینمنٹ ٹی وی
مطیع اللہ جان اور اسد طور کی جانب سے ایڈووکیٹ ریاست علی آزاد اور ایمان مزاری نے عدالت میں دلائل دیے اور مؤقف اختیار کیا کہ ان کے مؤکلین کو پابندی سے قبل کوئی نوٹس نہیں دیا گیا۔
عدالت نے تسلیم کیا کہ اسد طور اور مطیع اللہ جان کو یوٹیوب چینلز کی معطلی سے متعلق کوئی نوٹس جاری نہیں کیا گیا۔ یوٹیوب کی جانب سے انہیں آگاہ کیا گیا تھا کہ ان کے چینلز بند کیے جا رہے ہیں۔ جواباً صحافیوں نے یوٹیوب کو تحریری مؤقف بھی جمع کروایا۔
عدالت نے فوری طور پر دونوں صحافیوں کے چینلز پر پابندی معطل کر دی اور نیشنل سائبر کرائم انویسٹی گیشن ایجنسی کو آئندہ سماعت کے لیے نوٹس جاری کر دیا۔ فیصلے میں کہا گیا کہ بغیر نوٹس کے اس نوعیت کی کارروائی بنیادی انسانی حقوق کے منافی ہے۔
November 03, 2025: PFUJ recalls November 3, 2007, as Pakistan’s darkest day under Musharraf, urging protection for journalists and the abolition of laws threatening press freedom.
November 02, 2025: PFUJ urges Pakistan’s federal and provincial governments to end Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists and ensure their safety and press freedom.
November 02, 2025: Impunity for crimes against journalists deepens worldwide as Pakistan reports a 60 percent surge in attacks and weak enforcement of safety laws.
November 01, 2025: Pakistan Press Foundation reports 137 attacks on journalists in 2025, highlighting rising threats, legal harassment, and censorship on the International Day to End Impunity.
November 01, 2025: A viral Samaa TV clip featuring MNA Sher Afzal Marwat’s crude remarks and Talat Hussain’s laughter raises questions about the declining ethics of Pakistani television.
October 31, 2025: Police foiled a plot to kill DawnNewsTV journalist Tahir Naseer in Rawalpindi after arresting suspects hired for Rs200,000. Naseer says threats followed his reporting.
October 31, 2025: CPJ calls on Pakistan to bring Imtiaz Mir’s killers to justice after the journalist was allegedly murdered by a banned militant group in Karachi.
October 30, 2025: The PFUJ has condemned a fabricated drug case against journalist Matiullah Jan, calling it an attempt to silence him and urging authorities to quash the charges immediately.
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November 01, 2025 Belarus court jails journalist Siarhei Chabotska for extremism and defaming the president, highlighting Minsk’s ongoing crackdown on press freedom.
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