Pakistan media regulator bans Imran Khan’s speeches. How he evaded arrest in Toshakhana case

Imran Khan has been within the crosshairs for purchasing items, together with an costly Graff wristwatch, he had acquired because the premier at a reduced worth from the state depository ‘Toshakhana’ and promoting them for revenue. The courtroom has requested him to look earlier than it on March 7 within the case.

FILE PHOTO: Former Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan addresses a information convention (Reuters)

By India Today World Desk: Pakistan’s digital media watchdog on Sunday banned satellite tv for pc tv channels from broadcasting dwell and recorded speeches of ousted prime minister Imran Khan with instant impact, hours after he dodged arrest and made ‘provocative statements towards state establishments’.

Khan, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman, addressed his celebration employees exterior his Zaman Park residence in Lahore, saying he has by no means “bowed before any man or institution.”

He additionally lashed out at authorities leaders, alleging they stashed their wealth abroad and got safety in authorized instances by former Pakistan Army chief Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa.

The developments got here after Islamabad Police on Sunday arrived at Khan’s Lahore residence to arrest him within the Toshakhana case, however returned after assurance from his authorized group that he would seem earlier than the courtroom on March 7.

IMRAN KHAN’s SPEECHES BANNED – WHAT PEMRA SAID

Referring to earlier directives whereby all licencees have been directed to ‘chorus from telecasting any content material towards state establishments’, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) mentioned Khan, in his speech, was “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.”

It mentioned the airing of hateful, slanderous, and unwarranted statements towards state establishments is “in sheer violation of Article 19 of the Constitution and the judgment of the Supreme Court”.

Lahore: Imran Khan’s supporters exterior his residence after police reached there to arrest him in Toshakhana case (Photo: PTI)

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

PEMRA additionally warned TV channels that their license could be suspended in case of non-compliance.

IMRAN KHAN WRITES TO PAKISTAN CJI

Meanwhile, in a letter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan, the previous prime minister highlighted the safety dangers he faces within the mild of credible threats of a second assassination try.

Imran Khan has complained of not being offered enough safety regardless of being the nation’s former PM.

He alleged that the present prime minister and the inside minister have been concerned within the failed assassination try towards him.

He mentioned that there have been clear indications of one other assassination try towards him.

Imran Khan’s letter to CJIHOW IMRAN KHAN DODGED ARREST BY ISLAMABAD POLICE

Sunday noticed large protests at Khan’s residence after a group of Islamabad police reached his Lahore residence to arrest him within the Toshakhana case. The officers, nonetheless, returned after his authorized group assured them that he would seem earlier than the courtroom on March 7.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice-Chairman and Former Foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi mentioned there was no point out of “arrest” within the warrants as an Islamabad periods courtroom had requested him to look earlier than it on March 7 within the Toshakhana case.

The courtroom issued a non-bailable arrest warrant towards Khan final week and adjourned the listening to until March 7 due to his repeated failure to look earlier than the courtroom.

WHAT HAPPENED OUTSIDE KHAN’S RESIDENCE

The Lahore police on Sunday first positioned containers and closed the primary street resulting in the Zaman Park residence of Khan.

Riot police and water cannons have been current close to Khan’s residence. Though his celebration employees feared that the police might raid Khan’s home anytime, they mentioned they might not foil any such try.

Lahore: Imran Khan’s supporters exterior his residence after police reached there to arrest him in Toshakhana case (Photo: PTI)

Punjab Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar mentioned in a press release that Punjab police would cooperate with Islamabad police to implement the courtroom’s order concerning Khan’s case. He, nonetheless, didn’t say that police have been going to arrest Khan.

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters, a minister mentioned the Islamabad police went to Khan’s residence to ship a discover to him to look earlier than a courtroom within the Toshakhana case on March 7, when he will probably be indicted within the case.

A lot of PTI employees reached Zaman Park following the information of his doable arrest.

“Arrest of Imran Khan is our red line and we will not allow this,” PTI senior chief Shafqat Mahmood mentioned.

TV footage confirmed police officers in Islamabad Police uniforms in addition to Punjab Police being held again by Khan’s supporters exterior his residence.

In a collection of tweets, the Islamabad Police earlier mentioned an operation to arrest Khan was being carried out with the cooperation of the Lahore police.

Meanwhile, senior PTI chief Fawad Chaudhry informed reporters that Khan is submitting a protecting bail petition within the Lahore High Court within the assault on Islamabad judicial advanced.

WHY IS IMRAN KHAN UNDER FIRE

Khan, 70, has been within the crosshairs for purchasing items, together with an costly Graff wristwatch he had acquired because the premier at a reduced worth from the state depository known as Toshakhana and promoting them for revenue.

The Islamabad Sessions courtroom issued a non-bailable arrest warrant towards Khan final week and adjourned the listening to until March 7 due to his repeated failure to look earlier than the courtroom.

This is just not the primary time that PEMRA has banned TV channels from broadcasting Khan’s speeches.

In August final yr, the previous cricketer-turned-politician, whereas addressing a public gathering, threatened to file instances towards high police officers, a girl Justice of the Peace, and the Election Commission of Pakistan over the remedy meted out to his aide Shehbaz Gill, who was then arrested on costs of sedition.

Khan was ousted from energy in April after dropping a no-confidence vote, which he alleged was a part of a US-led conspiracy focusing on him due to his impartial international coverage choices on Russia, China, and Afghanistan.

Since his ouster, Khan has been clamouring for instant elections to oust what he termed an “imported government” led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Sharif has maintained that elections will probably be held later this yr as soon as the parliament completes its five-year tenure.

Published On:

Mar 6, 2023