The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) informed the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday that there is no ban on broadcasting speeches of former prime minister Imran Khan.
This revelation came during the hearing of a petition filed by Imran against Pemra’s decision to restrict satellite TV channels from airing his speeches and press talks. The ban had been imposed immediately after Imran criticized former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa for allegedly protecting corrupt rulers.
Imran, currently in Adiala Jail, challenged the ban, claiming it was driven by vengeance. The LHC, in its eighth hearing on the case, emphasized that Pemra should avoid pressuring TV channels on the petitioner’s concerns.
Pemra’s counsel, Haroon Duggal, stated during the hearing that there was no ban on broadcasting Imran’s speeches. The court concluded the petition after brief arguments.
In the previous prohibition order, Pemra cited directives to refrain from airing content against state institutions. It accused Imran of making baseless allegations and spreading hate speech in his statements, which could disturb public peace. The ban was issued under Pemra’s delegated powers, prohibiting the broadcast of Imran’s speeches on all satellite TV channels.
Imran challenged the order, arguing that it exceeded Pemra’s jurisdiction and violated constitutional rights. He pointed out that a similar prohibition order had been set aside by the Islamabad High Court in the past. The petition contended that Pemra’s order was illegal, unlawful, and beyond its jurisdiction, urging the court to set it aside.
