YouTuber Orya Maqbool Jan, known for criticizing the army, arrested in Pakistan

A YouTuber and critic of the Pakistan Army, Orya Maqbool Jan, has been arrested in Punjab province for allegedly inciting "religious hatred" and "defaming institutions," particularly the military, according to authorities on Thursday. This comes just a week after intelligence agencies allegedly abducted another YouTuber and comedian for criticizing the Shehbaz Sharif-led government.

The Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) cybercrime wing said it raided Jan's residence in Lahore on Thursday. He was arrested for stoking religious hatred against an "important personality" and institutions. Jan is a columnist, poet, playwright, and former civil servant with over one million subscribers to his YouTube channel. Last year, intelligence agencies detained him for several days for openly criticizing the military's role in politics and supporting jailed former prime minister Imran Khan.

Following Khan's arrest, the founder of the Pakistan-Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party last August, several journalists and YouTubers faced arrests, violence, and threats amid mass protests.


Earlier last week, another Pakistani YouTuber and comedian, Aun Ali Khosa, was allegedly abducted by intelligence agencies for singing a song critical of the Shehbaz Sharif government and its backers. Khosa returned home to Punjab province, his lawyer confirmed on Monday. Khosa was among three social media activists from Khan's PTI who were recently picked up allegedly by intelligence agencies.

The other two activists are Naeem Ahmad Yasin and Arsalan Akbar, whose families have reported them as "missing."