The ban was imposed on September 17, 2012. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI: Video sharing website YouTube, which has been blocked since last September, was temporarily restored by a few Internet Service Providers (ISPs) on Thursday and was accessible even on Friday, reports said.
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had banned YouTube in September 2012 after Google turned down Islamabad's request to remove blasphemous content from the website, particularly the sacrilegious video "Innocence of Muslims," which had sparked protests across the Muslim world including Pakistan.
However, this respite was not the result of any official machinery acting. An official from the telecom regulator confirmed they had not received any instructions to unblock the website and said it was still, officially, banned.
The telecom regulator issued notices to ISPs to make sure the site remains blocked and asked for a compliance report on the matter.
Readers commenting on the Express Tribune facebook page had mixed fortunes. Some people reported that YouTube was working for them, while others said it was not.
Among the ISPs that they reported it was working on was PTCL Evo in some parts of Karachi, Islamabad and Peshawar. While users of WiTribe reported that they could not access the video sharing website.
COMMENTS (17)
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I don't think that Youtube can be blocked as long as free web proxies and VPN exist, people who use this website for dirty purposes are used to using proxies I guess, which means that the majority of people who can't access it are students and people who want to learn something.
We do need YOUTUBE. Using proxies is not a big help to us. As students we need to have access to YOUTUBE many a times we have to look at videos to learn but with the proxies its like using a dial up connection. Why cant you ppl understand that everything has its pros and cons its how you use it that counts. Banning every bad thing is not the solution. Why dont you ban firearms aren't they also killing ppl?
Blocking YouTube won't stop drone attacks or earthquakes. cut the crap already.
Why not just block the particular link on youtube itself. It can be easily done..
Those who believe that by blocking Youtube the issues shall be resolved and Youtube shall not be accessible in Pakistan then they have not to live in the dreams and they are believing that misuse of any thing means block it then would they like explain that 1-When TV is misused then do they break TV? 2-When mobiles are misused then they break mobile phones and stop using mobile phones also? 3-When any technology is misused then do they stop using that technology? 4-Internet is also used in both positive and negative aspects then does it mean that internet should not be used? For those who are opposing Youtube I want to say something,id est,positive and negative usage of any thing is always in your hands and in your will power and this depends upon you that how do you use the things according to your mental level and approach.Basically nothing is wrong itself but your usage makes it wrongful and rightful and you use and make the things rightful and wrongful according your thoughts and will power.......
U can use YOUTUBE withOUT Proxy/VPN. .! No matter iz it blocked/Not
Neww,
Then don't use YouTube! Let me use it.
Youtube "breathes" again?... oh come one, change the head line. It contradicts with the word "SMOLDER".!
Why dont u people understand that Yes, youtube can be accessed by proxies and vpn softwares but the speed is usually quite slow and we hate to have to bear 20 load times in a 4 min clip! Enough already unblock it!!
Just because we can close our eyes, does not mean that the world ceases to exist...
NO NEED AT ALL TO UNBLOCK!!!!!!!
Youtube can still be easily accessed by hotspot or other proxy servers. But i think it must remain blocked until it removes the movie mentioned in the news/article
What?????
Enough already. Youtube must be unblocked.