ISLAMABAD: Amid rising tensions between Pakistan and India, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has compiled a list of prominent Pakistani YouTubers accused of disseminating content against the state and military leadership.
The authority has approached the federal government, seeking approval to block these channels within Pakistan to counter what it describes as harmful narratives during a sensitive period of diplomatic strain.
Among those named in the list are well-known figures such as Imran Riaz, Sabir Shakir, Siddique Jan, and Shahbaz Gill. The PTA has already blocked the YouTube channels of journalists Ahmed Noorani and Waqar Malik inside Pakistan. However, further action on the remaining individuals is pending government clearance.
The PTA has also submitted the compiled data to YouTube’s parent administration, requesting the removal of content and accounts accused of promoting anti-army and anti-state rhetoric.
A PTA spokesperson confirmed that the authority is awaiting instructions from the federal government before proceeding further. “The channels in question have been flagged due to their content targeting state institutions, particularly the military,” the official said. “We’ve shared the necessary details with YouTube, but cannot disclose the full list publicly due to confidentiality.”
So far, the PTA reports having blocked 3,248 YouTube channels for spreading anti-Pakistan content. In total, 119,496 URLs have been taken down over unlawful content across platforms.
The PTA also revealed that 68 Indian YouTube channels have been blocked in Pakistan at its request.
While the PTA holds the authority to restrict access to illegal content under its jurisdiction, the spokesperson clarified that legal action, including arrests and prosecution, falls under the domain of law enforcement agencies.
“Relevant sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PICA) and the Pakistan Penal Code may apply in such cases,” the official added.
