Pakistan media regulator bans broadcast of Imran Khan’s speeches on TV channels

As Pakistan’s ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan faces arrest within the Toshakhana case, the nation’s media regulator has banned the printed of the PTI chief’s speeches on all of the TV channels.

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan (Photo: File)

By India Today World Desk: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on Sunday imposed a ban on broadcasting speeches and press talks (dwell or Recorded) of former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan on all satellite tv for pc TV channels. The order comes because the PTI chief is evading arrest from Islamabad police in reference to the Toshakhana case.

“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,” learn an order issued by the media regulatory authority on Sunday.

Pakistan’s media regulatory physique stated the airing of hateful, slanderous and unwarranted statements towards state establishments is “in sheer violation of Article 19 of the Constitution and a judgment of the Supreme Court”.

It has been noticed that such content material was telecasted by TV channels with out efficient utilisation of the time-delay mechanism in violation of provisions of PEMRA legal guidelines in addition to judgments of the apex courts, the media regulator added.

Political get together PTI slammed the transfer and stated it will trigger hurt to revenues of media channels.

“They think that by banning Imran Khan’s speeches from TV they can obtain more votes, but they don’t know that it will cause harm to media channels revenues only,” Imran Khan’s get together PTI stated on Twitter.

پاکستانیوں اب جب کے پیمرا نے چیئرمین عمران خان کی تقریر براہ راست دکھانے پر پابندی لگادی ہے تو آپ پاکستان تحریک انصاف کے آفیشل یوٹیوب چینل کو ابھی سبسکرائب کریں اور عمران خان کی تقریر براہ راست دیکھیں.

PTI Official Youtube channnel Link: https://t.co/pzk3rQp3du pic.twitter.com/j4bXhtjjfQ
— PTI (@PTIofficial) March 5, 2023

The regulatory physique additionally directed all satellite tv for pc TV channels to make sure that neutral editorial boards be constituted, as required underneath Clause 17 of Electronic Media (Programmes and Advertisement) Code of Conduct 2015, to make sure their platforms aren’t used for airing contemptuous remarks or hateful or prejudicial statements towards state establishments or within the curiosity of public legislation and order.

The authorities warned the TV channels that their license could be suspended in case of non-compliance.

Earlier within the day, police officers arrived at Imran Khan’s Lahore residence, which was surrounded by lots of of protesters and supporters on account of which police have been unable to arrest him.

“A team of Islamabad police has arrived in Lahore to arrest Imran Khan to comply with the court orders,” Islamabad police stated in a tweet.

“Imran Khan is reluctant to surrender — the Superintendent of Police had gone into the room but Imran Khan was not present there.”

ALSO READ | Protests exterior Imran Khan’s Lahore residence towards his arrest in Toshakhana case | 5 Points

Pakistani police at present served arrest warrants to Imran Khan to make sure his look in court docket on prices of misusing his workplace to promote state items, authorities instructed information company Reuters.

The arrest warrant was issued after Imran Khan failed to seem in court docket in a corruption case on Feb 28. Officials returned after assurance from his authorized group that he’ll seem earlier than the court docket on March 7.

The election fee of Pakistan had in October discovered the 70-year-old cricket-hero-turned politician responsible of unlawfully promoting items from international dignitaries.

Referring to his absence from court docket and the taking pictures incident, Khan stated on Sunday: “They (the police) know there is a threat against my life,” including that the courts didn’t present satisfactory safety.

The former cricketer-turned-politician has been within the crosshairs for getting items, together with an costly Graff wristwatch he had acquired because the premier, at a reduced worth from the state depository referred to as Toshakhana and promoting them for revenue.

ALSO READ | Pakistan has change into a banana Republic, crooks ruling the nation: Imran Khan

(With company inputs)

Published On:

Mar 5, 2023