- By Shubham Bajpai
- Sun, 04 May 2025 12:01 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Amid the string of blocking of social media accounts of Pakistanis, India has now blocked the X accounts of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and ex-minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. The development comes amid rising heat in relations between two countries in the wake of the Pakistan-backed Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives.
When accessed, their handles show "withheld in India in response to a legal demand". This comes after social media accounts of several notable personalities in Pakistan have already been banned in India. From politicians to singers to sports figures and actors, dozens of social media accounts have been blocked.
On May 2, India blocked YouTube channels of Pakistan's PM Shahbaz Sharif and others including ARY News.
Among artists, the government has blocked social media accounts of Hania Amir, Mahira Khan, Atif Aslam, Ali Zafa, Sanam Saeed, Bilal Abbas, Iqra Aziz, Imran Abbas, and Sajal Aly, among others.
Moreover, the YouTube channels of former Pakistan cricketers Shoaib Akhtar and Basit Ali were blocked in India following "an order from the government related to national security or public order."
These channels and handles were blocked after the government initially banned 16 YouTube channels on Monday. YouTube channels of prominent news outlets like Dawn News, Samaa TV, and Geo News were banned. As per a report by ANI, their combined subscriber base was around 63 million.
These platforms were accused of circulating provocative, communally sensitive content and spreading misinformation targeting India, its Army, and security forces.