Lahore: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on Thursday informed the Lahore High Court (LHC) that there was no ban on the broadcast of former prime minister Imran Khan’s speeches.
Last year, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder challenged PEMRA’s decision to bar all TV channels from airing Imran’s speeches and press conferences.
The hearing was presided over by Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza.
On March 5, 2023, the regulatory body imposed a blanket ban on broadcasting live or recorded speeches of the former premier on all satellite TV channels.
“It has been observed that Mr Imran Khan, Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, in his speeches/statements is continuously...levelling baseless allegations and spreading hate speech through his provocative statements against state institutions and officers which is prejudicial to the maintenance of law and order and is likely to disturb public peace and tranquillity,” the order issued by the media regulatory authority read.
Imran’s counsel had stated in the petition that PEMRA had issued the impugned order beyond their jurisdiction and without having regard to the constitutional rights guaranteed under Articles 19 and 19-A of the Constitution.
