Govt seeks legal advice to book Imran Khan under sedition charges

ISLAMABAD: The federal government is mulling over options to book PTI chairman Imran Khan in a sedition case filed against the party leader Shahbaz Gill, ARY NEWS reported.

According to sources privy to the matter, a high-level meeting took place at the interior ministry where options were mulled for action against Imran Khan under sedition charges.

“The interior ministry has sought advice from advocate general and law ministry over two options which included if Khan should be booked in a similar case filed against Shahbaz Gill or a new case be registered against him,” they said.

The sources said that the rally taken out in favour of Shahbaz Gill in Islamabad also violated the section 144 and a FIR could also be registered under it.

PEMRA bans Imran Khan’s live speech on TV

On Saturday, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has slapped a ban on broadcasting live speeches of former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan on all TV channels with immediate effect.

PEMRA in its press release said: “It has been observed that Imran Khan, Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, in his speeches/statements is continuously alleging state institutions by 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 tranquility.”

“The competent authority i.e. Chairman PEMRA in view of the above-mentioned background and reasons, in the 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,” it said.

What Imran Khan said?

While addressing a protest rally in Islamabad on Saturday, Imran Khan warned the IG and DIG of Islamabad police, saying that he will not spare them and register a case against them for “torturing” party leader Shahbaz Gill during physical remand.

He also called out Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Zeba Chaudhry for approving police request of physical remand despite knowing that Gill was subjected to “torture”. “We will not leave you [Zeba] and will also file a case against her.”