Pakistan

Has YouTube finally been unblocked?

Twitteratis were surprised and overjoyed, while some couldn't access the video-sharing website

Web Desk February 27, 2015

PHOTO: AFP

A respite for Pakistanis, YouTube started working on a few browsers after being banned for more than two years in the country.

People were at first skeptical, but this was soon followed by joy and disappointment from those who could still not access it.

The video-sharing website has been banned in Pakistan since September 2012 after the search engine giant refused to take down the “Innocence of Muslims” movie that sparked furious protests around the world.

Earlier this month, an official said YouTube will remain blocked in Pakistan ‘indefinitely’, as experts have failed to find a way to filter content deemed offensive and blasphemous.

Read: YouTube to remain blocked in Pakistan 'indefinitely': officials

Free speech campaigners in Pakistan have long complained of creeping censorship in the name of protecting religion or preventing obscenity, and have described the ban on YouTube as a violation of civil rights.

We look at some Twitter reactions:

Hearing folks in Pakistan have finally got access to #YouTube after 2+ years. Mubarak.
— Rezaul Hasan Laskar (@Rezhasan) February 26, 2015

#YouTube unblocked in #Pakistan :D pic.twitter.com/twa6xHYZ1w
— elena musk 💛 (@AnmolAleena) February 26, 2015

So yes, #YouTube working direct from browser, no proxy - but links embedded in other websites still give blocked message. #Pakistan
— Saadia Bukhari (@SaadiaBukhari) February 26, 2015

Finally #youtube open in #Pakistan.
Yes it is working. I have just opened it. #youtubePakistan pic.twitter.com/jTPfEdpmqV
— Ibn E Farooq (@GhiasShaikh) February 24, 2015

I just found out that Youtube got unblocked in Pakistan exactly 1 hour before Brit Awards. This was all fate!
— myra (@myra_rk) February 25, 2015

YouTube is working. YouTube is working. #Pakistan
— Shiraz Hassan (@ShirazHassan) February 25, 2015

https://twitter.com/UsmanTweets_/status/571202883716124672

https://twitter.com/memonjb/status/570342523127730178

"@RajaArsalanKhan: And thanks God! #Pakistan remains safe. #YouTube isn't working"
— Rezaul Hasan Laskar (@Rezhasan) February 27, 2015

https://twitter.com/situationsarah/status/571074461799026689

COMMENTS (9)

Fahim | 9 years ago | Reply With the grace of Almighty Allah, I saw some url links of youtube were working. I can now watch videos and learn alot of thing. Thank you government!

No... | 9 years ago | Reply No...