The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has prohibited all satellite television networks from airing live or taped remarks of former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Imran Khan.
An order issued by the media regulatory authority on Sunday read, “t has been observed that Mr. Imran Khan, Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, in his speeches/statements is continuously… leveling 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.”
PEMRA stated that broadcasting abusive, defamatory, and unjustified words against state institutions “violates Article 19 of the Constitution and a Supreme Court ruling.”
According to the media regulator, in contravention of requirements of PEMRA statutes and top court rulings, such content was broadcast by television networks without the effective use of a time-delay device.
The PEMRA ruling stated, “Therefore, the competent authority, i.e., Chairman PEMRA, prohibits the broadcast/rebroadcast of speech(s)/press talks (recorded or live) of Mr. Imran Khan on all satellite TV channels with immediate effect.”
