LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) Thursday suspended the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s (PEMRA) decision to ban all satellite TV channels from broadcasting former prime minister Imran Khan’s speeches and press talks.
Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza announced the judgment. He also sent the matter to the full bench for hearing and adjourned the proceedings till March 13.
Earlier, in accordance with Section 27 of the PEMRA Act, the media regulatory agency prohibited TV broadcasters from airing the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf speeches, news conferences.
PEMRA said 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 tranquility.”
The PTI head subsequently approached the court, arguing that Pemra’s directive was “purely driven out of vengeance”.
In his plea filed through counsel Barrister Ahmed Pansuta, Imran said that the ban on speech is a violation of the fundamental rights in the Constitution.
“The Constitution of Pakistan allows citizens to freedom of expression,” the petition said.
“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 petition added.
As the LHC took up the petition today, Justice Mirza asked how such a ban could be imposed on the head of a political party. “This is against freedom of speech,” he remarked.
However, Pemra’s counsel argued that the matter should be heard by a full bench.
“I request the court that this is not its jurisdiction,” the government lawyer also said.
On the other hand, Imran’s counsel Barrister Muhammad Ahmad Pansota contended that Pemra’s ban on the former prime minister’s speeches and live talks was a violation of fundamental rights enshrined under the Constitution. He also requested that the court should set aside the authority’s order.
Subsequently, the court reserved its verdict on Imran’s plea.
This is not the first time that PEMRA has imposed a ban on Imran’s speeches. In August last year, the media regulator imposed a blanket ban on live coverage of Imran’s speeches after he allegedly threatened Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Zeba Chaudhry, and the Islamabad Police IG and DIG, of “consequences” after the judge handed over physical custody of the ex-PM’s aide, Shahbaz Gill, to police for two days.
Later, Imran approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) which then set aside the ban on September 6, 2022.
