Pakistan media watchdog imposes ban on broadcasting ex-PM Imran Khan’s live speeches
The Hindu
Imran Khan in a recent rally threatened to file cases against top police officials, a woman magistrate, Election Commission of Pakistan and political opponents
Pakistan’s media watchdog has banned broadcasting live speeches of former Prime Minister Imran Khan on all satellite television channels with immediate effect, hours after he threatened state institutions and government officials while addressing a rally in Islamabad.
Mr. Khan, while addressing a public gathering in Islamabad on Saturday, threatened to file cases against top police officials, a woman magistrate, Election Commission of Pakistan and political opponents over the treatment meted out to his aide Shahbaz Gill, who was arrested last week on charges of sedition.
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) in a communique issued on Saturday said that television channels despite repeated warnings had failed to implement a time-delay mechanism to stop the broadcast of material against “state institutions”.
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"It has been observed that Mr Imran Khan, Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), in his speeches/statements is continuously alleging state institutions by 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 tranquility," it said.
The regulator said Mr. Khan’s speeches were in violation of Article 19 of the Constitution and against the code of conduct for media.
"The competent authority i.e. Chairman PEMRA in view of the above mentioned background and reasons, in exercise of delegated powers of the authority vested in Section 27(a) of the PEMRA Ordinance 2002 as amended by PEMRA (Amendment) Act 2007, hereby prohibits broadcast of live speech of Imran Khan on all satellite TV channels with immediate effect," it added.