How #KholoBC video forced Pakistan to lift YouTube ban

After three years of ban on YouTube in Pakistan, the video streaming site is back on the internet - but with its own customised versions. In September 2012, YouTube was blocked when a controversial anti-Islam video "Innocence of Muslims" sparked an outrage across the world.

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority announced a total ban on YouTube, when the site failed to remove the trailer of the film, declaring it an act of 'blasphemy'.

Time went by but the ban wasn't lifted. Free speech advocates across Pakistan huddled together with multiple methods of protest against the government to lift the ban. This music video named "#KholoBC", as a part of the youth initiative "Pakistan for All", a movement that campaigns against state censorship came together with a rap song to speak against the authorities.

Tagging the government as "Kholo Ban, Chor" (Lift the ban, thieves), the artists uploaded the video on YouTube using a proxy server to make their point. Since the ban is lifted now, I am sure that they must be at peace.

Besides, "Pakistan for All" created another campaign "Hugs for YouTube" to bring YouTube back in Pakistan. A YouTube mascot can be seen in this video, wandering around Karachi, asking people to hug it to support "free internet and speech" by bringing back YouTube.