An official said that Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf directed PTA from Karachi to block Youtube hours after it was restored. The website was blocked in Pakistan by the government subsequent to posting of anti-Islam film clips and countrywide protests against the derogatory movie.
Minister for Interior Rehman Malik was reported tweeting on Friday night that Youtube would be restored within 24 hours. "There was a great demand to unblock Youtube," Malik tweeted. The PTA earlier informed all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) through e-mails about the government''s decision regarding the lifting of the ban on YouTube. All necessary e-mails have been circulated and all ISPs have opened access to YouTube to internet users of Pakistan.
Sources in the Ministry of Information Technology (IT) revealed to Business Recorder that Interior Ministry had issued directives to the Ministry to unblock Youtube in the country. IT Ministry endorsed the directives of Interior Ministry and directed PTA to unblock Youtube.
Talking to Business Recorder Sajjad Latif Director General (DG) PTA told Business Recorder that there was no agreement between the government of Pakistan and Google in this regard, therefore it would be available. "We received instructions from the IT Ministry to provisionally unblock Youtube and review it after one month to ensure that no blasphemous material was available", Sajjad added. The IT Ministry further directed PTA to increase its staff to vigilantly monitor Youtube and make sure that no anti-Islamic material was available. As the Authority unblocked Youtube, the anti-Islamic film was available, he added.