PTI approaches LHC to challenge ban on coverage of Imran Khan’s speeches

Lahore:  Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday approached the Lahore High Court (LHC) to challenge ban imposed by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on broadcasting of PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s speeches and statements.

The PTI Chief filed the plea through Barrister Ahmed Pansuta and made PEMRA as a respondent in it.

Imran Khan said that ban on speech is a violation of the fundamental rights as the Constitution guaranteed freedom of expression to the citizens.

He said that the ban on freedom of expression would lead to chaos and political agitation in the county and the country could not afford chaos by this kind of restriction in the prevailing situation.

The petitioner submitted that the plea also held that only three out of 13 members issued the ban notification and approval of at least five members was a legal requirement for banning under the Pemra Act.

Khan asked the court to set aside the ban for being against the law and allow broadcasting of his speeches.

The development took place a day after Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) put a complete ban on the broadcast of speeches, talks or public addresses of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supremo Imran Khan.

PEMRA in its notification had said that the PTI chairman had been making false accusations against state institutions in his speeches which was prejudiced to the maintenance of law and order and was likely to disturb public peace and tranquility.

The regulatory body also directed all the satellite television channels to refrain from airing any of the PTI chief statements, addresses, and conversations, whether recorded or live, or from a press talk.

The regulator exercised its power under Section 27 of the PEMRA Ordinance 2002 to ban coverage of Imran’s speeches.  It held that “Airing of baseless allegations, hateful, slanderous and unwarranted statement against state institutions and officers are in sheer violation of Article 19 of the Constitution.”

The media watchdog's decision to ban the broadcast of Imran Khan's speeches is not a novel occurrence. In fact, the media regulator had previously implemented a similar ban on August 21 last year.