PEMRA imposed this ban on all satellite channels hours after Khan threatened to file cases against inspector-general, deputy inspector general of police in Islamabad, and the magistrate for ‘torturing’ his chief of staff Shahbaz Gill.
By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Media watchdog on Saturday banned broadcasting of live speeches of former prime minister Imran Khan for threatening an Islamabad police chief and a magistrate during an address in the capital.
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) said Khan’s recorded speech would only be permitted to be aired after an effective delay mechanism to ensure monitoring and editorial control.
The watchdog said PTI chief, in his speeches, has been continuously calling out state institutions by “leveling baseless allegations and spreading hate speech against state institutions and officers, which is prejudicial to the maintenance of law and order and is likely to disturb public peace and tranquility”.
“…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 the broadcast of live speech of Mr. Imran Khan on all satellite TV channels with immediate effect,” the PEMRA said in its notification.
PEMRA imposed this ban on all satellite channels hours after Khan threatened to file cases against inspector-general, deputy inspector general of police in Islamabad, and the magistrate for ‘torturing’ his chief of staff Shahbaz Gill.
Gill was arrested by the police on August 9 after he made controversial remarks against the Pakistan army on television that were deemed “highly hateful and seditious” by the authorities.
Khan’s close aide was arrested on charges of colluding with a private TV news channel in carrying out anti-state propaganda.
Khan alleged that Gill was ‘caught and tortured’ to send a message to him.
“We will not spare the IG and DIG,” he said at a public gathering in Islamabad’s F-9 park to protest Gill’s arrest and alleged “gruesome torture” in police custody.
Khan called out Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry, who last week had approved Gill’s two-day physical remand at the request of the capital police, and said she too should prepare herself as a case will also be registered against her.
“They [coalition government] are trying to scare us by torturing Gill,” he added.
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