The most popular video sharing website YouTube is about to be unblocked in Pakistan, hints, Rehman Malik; the interior minister of Pakistan. The website was blocked due to an Anti-Islamic video clip was uploaded to YouTube on 9th of the September for the first time. The video clip sparked the Islamic world and big protests took place all across the Muslim world. Initially Afghanistan blocked the website in order to restrict the access to the video clip and later on; Sudan, Iran and Bangladesh joined Afghanistan. On 18th of the September, Pakistan's telecommunication authority PTA blocked the entire video sharing website in Pakistan. Thus, The website is no longer accessible since 18th of the September. However, all the advance users of YouTube open it with different proxy software and do their activities on YT. Almost, one and half month has been passed, but the website is still banned in Pakistan.
Why was YouTube banned in Pakistan?
As told, YouTube was banned due to a film which disrespected the Prophet Muhammad (S.W.A.W) and sparked the Muslim world. Therefore, firstly, Pakistan's government requested Google to down the video from the website or at least restrict it from being viewed by Pakistan users. But Google's reply was; the company has not yet been localized in Pakistan, therefore, the content can neither be restricted nor removed. In compulsion, Pakistan's prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf ordered PTA to block the website in Pakistan. Earlier, the decision was also taken by supreme court of Pakistan.
However, the website is being viewed as normal in many other Muslim countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE and India etc. Because their request for the removal of that video was accepted by Google and the video was restricted in above listed countries.
YouTube will be unblocked in Pakistan
Now the final part of this article should be read carefully; Mr. Rehman Malik who is a very popular personality in Pakistan. He recently [on 27th October] hints about the unblocking process of YouTube. He told the media that; he received many abuses from the people on his Twitter account, and many of them were asking for unblocking YouTube in Pakistan. He hints, website will be reopened soon, but before that the objected videos will either be restricted or removed by PTA.
He added, he would discuss unblocking YouTube in the next cabinet meetings with other officials. He moreover said, the YouTube is a worth visiting website and can be beneficial for young generation. He promised to talk about this issue sooner, but he also declared that, the website may be reopened but after access to Anti-Islamic video has been restricted.
