Islamabad, Pakistan: Digital censorship measures have reportedly escalated in Pakistan, with access to several news websites said to have been restricted across the country following widespread media coverage of the ongoing unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Alongside local and regional digital news platforms, reports indicate that international broadcasters, including Al Jazeera English, have also become inaccessible to users in parts of Pakistan.
The reported restrictions target platforms covering the recent wave of protests, alleged security crackdowns and growing public grievances in the region. However, Pakistani authorities have not officially confirmed the reported restrictions.
The developments come amid heightened sensitivity over information relating to the political situation and local protest movements in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Earlier, Al Jazeera reported that a judicial magistrate's court in Islamabad sought a ban after Pakistan's National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency criticised several YouTube channels in a 2 June report for allegedly "sharing highly intimidating, provocative and derogatory contents against state institutions and officials of the state of Pakistan".
According to a court order dated 24 June cited by Al Jazeera, the channels facing possible restrictions include those linked to the country's main opposition party, its leader and jailed former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, along with several journalists critical of the government.
Al Jazeera also reported that digital rights campaigners warned such measures would further undermine freedom of expression in Pakistan. With traditional television and print media already facing significant restrictions, social media remains one of the few remaining avenues for public dissent.
Additionally, YouTube reportedly notified 27 content creators that their channels could be removed if they failed to comply with the court directives, according to Al Jazeera.
Meanwhile, the Joint Awami Action Committee has released details regarding ongoing violence in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, including footage it claims shows security personnel dragging and assaulting an unarmed civilian in a street.
According to the committee, the footage also appears to show an individual in civilian clothing standing alongside security personnel and firing towards protesters.
The appeal comes against the backdrop of mounting casualties during the ongoing protest movement. According to figures updated by the Human Rights Council of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Sunday, 80 fatalities have been documented, comprising 33 civilian deaths before 27 July, 43 deaths from 27 July onwards across Rawalakot, Mirpur and Muzaffarabad, and four Pakistan-occupied Kashmir police personnel.
In response, the Joint Awami Action Committee has called on the United Nations, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, international media organisations and diplomatic missions to examine the footage, independently verify the claims and press for an immediate, independent and impartial investigation.
The committee has also urged the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to closely monitor the humanitarian situation and ensure that injured people and affected civilians receive protection and assistance in line with its mandate.
The latest developments come a day after the second phase of elections in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir witnessed widespread disruptions, logistical failures and continuing protests, raising fresh questions over the credibility of the electoral process.
Polling was scheduled across 21 constituencies, including nine constituencies in the Muzaffarabad Division and 12 refugee constituencies located in different parts of Pakistan.
The voting process was reportedly disrupted in several constituencies because of road blockades and protests.
