JournalismPakistan.com | Published May 20, 2025 at 08:40 pm | JP Staff Report
Join our WhatsApp channelISLAMABAD—Fearing his YouTube channel might be banned in Pakistan soon, prominent journalist Imran Riaz Khan advised his 5.86 million subscribers to start using VPN services to access his content.
The warning comes after Saama TV reported Monday that six YouTube channels - including those of Sabir Shakir, Siddique Jan, Ahmad Noorani, and PTI leader Dr. Shahbaz Gill - face imminent bans in Pakistan.
"For now and for the days to come, install VPN," Riaz said in his latest vlog. "Tell everyone our videos cannot be seen without VPN." He even shared screenshots of free VPN options, demonstrating how they can be used whenever needed.
While Riaz's channel remains accessible in Pakistan at the time of reporting, the journalist - who left Pakistan in February citing threats to his life and now broadcasts daily vlogs from the UK - warned of growing censorship.
"The establishment and the government want that you should not see our channels. They want to snap our relations," Riaz stated. "VPN can help us stay connected."
اسلام آباد: اپنے یوٹیوب چینل پر آنے والے دنوں میں پاکستان میں پابندی کے خدشات کے پیش نظر، عمران ریاض خان نے منگل کو اپنے سبسکرائبرز سے وی پی این استعمال کرنے کی اپیل کی تاکہ وہ ان کے ولاگز دیکھتے رہیں۔
ساما ٹی وی نے پیر کو رپورٹ کیا تھا کہ پاکستان میں چھ یوٹیوب چینل پر پابندی لگائی جائے گی۔ ان میں صابر شاکر، صدیق جان، احمد نورانی کے چینلز کے ساتھ ساتھ امریکہ میں پی ٹی آئی رہنما ڈاکٹر شہباز گل کے چینلز بھی شامل ہیں۔
"اب اور آنے والے دنوں کے لیے وی پی این انسٹال کریں،" عمران ریاض نے اپنے ولاگ میں کہا، یہ کہتے ہوئے کہ انہیں جب چاہے استعمال کیا جا سکتا ہے۔ "سب کو بتا دیں کہ ہماری ویڈیوز وی پی این کے بغیر نہیں دیکھی جا سکتیں۔" تاہم، ان کا یوٹیوب چینل فی الحال پاکستان میں دستیاب ہے۔ ان کے 5.86 ملین سبسکرائبرز ہیں۔
عمران ریاض اس سال فروری میں پاکستان چھوڑ گئے تھے، یہ کہتے ہوئے کہ ان کی جان کو خطرہ ہے۔ فی الحال، وہ برطانیہ میں ہیں اور روزانہ دو ولاگز نشر کرتے ہیں، جو وسیع پیمانے پر دیکھے جاتے ہیں۔
انہوں نے وی پی این کی اسکرین شاٹس بھی شیئر کیں، یہ کہتے ہوئے کہ یہ مفت دستیاب ہیں۔ "اسٹیبلشمنٹ اور حکومت چاہتی ہے کہ آپ ہمارے چینلز نہ دیکھیں۔ وہ ہمارے تعلقات منقطع کرنا چاہتے ہیں۔ وی پی این ہمیں جڑے رہنے میں مدد کر سکتا ہے۔"
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