Pakistan asks YouTube to ban channels of 27 critics, including Imran Khan's PTI

ISLAMABAD: Alphabet-owned YouTube has told more than two dozen critics of the Pakistani govt that it is considering blocking their channels after a local court sought to ban them for being "anti-state".The channels that could be blocked include that of the main opposition party, of its chief, jailed former PM Imran Khan, and journalists critical of govt, according to a June 24 court order. The judicial magistrate court in Islamabad said it was seeking the ban after national cyber crime investigation agency criticised the channels in a report for "sharing highly provocative and derogatory contents against state institutions and officials of state of Pakistan".

Rights campaigners say any ban would further undermine free speech in Pakistan, where authorities are accused of stifling newspapers and television, and social media is seen as one of the few outlets for dissent. YouTube told 27 content creators their channels could be taken down if they did not comply with the court orders. State minister for interior Talal Chaudhry said the creators would also face criminal charges.

"It's not only about anchors getting fired or YouTube channels getting banned. It's what they are not allowing to be told and the rights abuse they are trying to hide from the world," said a spokesman for Khan's PTI.(This is a Reuters story)