PTI moves LHC against ban on broadcast of Imran's speeches
Pakistan
PTI moves LHC against ban on broadcasting Imran's speeches
LAHORE (Dunya News) – The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday challenged the ban imposed by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on the broadcasting of PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s speeches and statements.
The deposed premier’s lawyer, Barrister Ahmed Pansuta, filed the petition in the LHC and made Pemra a party.
The petition maintained that the ban on speech was a violation of the fundamental rights as enshrined in the Constitution. “The Constitution of Pakistan allows citizens freedom of expression,” it added. “The ban on freedom of expression will lead to chaos and political agitation in the county, and in the current political situation, the country cannot afford chaos by this kind of restriction.” The PTI took this position in the petition.
The plea also holds that only three out of 13 members issued the ban notification and approval of at least five members is a legal requirement for banning under the Pemra Act.
Earlier on Sunday, The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) imposed a complete ban on the broadcast of speeches, talks or public addresses of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supremo Imran Khan.
In a issued notification, the regulatory body stated that the PTI chairman has been making false accusations against state institutions in his speeches, "which is prejudiced to the maintenance of law and order and is likely to disturb public peace and tranquillity."
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Pemra has directed all 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's decision to ban the broadcasting of Imran’s speeches was made under Section 27 of the Pemra Ordinance 2002. It added 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. The blanket ban was enforced after Imran allegedly made threatening remarks against Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry, as well as the Islamabad Police IG and DIG. The alleged remarks came after the judge had handed over Imran's aide Shahbaz Gill to the police for physical custody for two days.
Imran Khan had challenged the ban on his speeches in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), which subsequently overturned the decision on September 6, 2022.
However, Pemra once again imposed a ban on Imran's press conferences on November 5 of the same year. The regulatory body took this step after Imran, in his first press conference following an assassination attempt on him, accused Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, and a senior intelligence official, identified as Major General Faisal Naseer, of plotting to eliminate him without providing any evidence. Imran demanded their immediate resignations to ensure a fair investigation.
The ban, however, was lifted hours later after the government instructed Pemra to do so, with Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb asserting the government's commitment to "democratic principles and constitutional freedoms of expression."
