Ban on Imran Khan's speeches lifted

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has directed the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to revoke the ban on airing speeches of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, ARY News reported on Saturday.

According to details, the federal government has directed PEMRA to ‘immediately’ revoke the ban by exercising Section 5.

The directives came an hour after Pakistan Electronic Media and Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) imposed a ban on television channels from broadcasting or rebroadcasting Imran Khan’s press conferences.

PEMRA banned the broadcast of Imran Khan’s speeches under PEMRAS Ordinance 2002. No TV channel would be allowed to broadcast the PTI Chief’s speeches, the notification issued by PEMRA read.

The authority notification read that Imran Khan hurled baseless allegations at national institutions in his speeches. Broadcasting such content on national television would birth hatred in society, they added.

The regulatory authority added that Imran Khan’s speeches are a threat to national security. Broadcasting his speeches is a violation of Article 19 of the constitution.

A day earlier, Imran Khan made controversial remarks against the military institution during an address following an attempt on his life during PTI’s long march against the government.

On November 3, Imran Khan and other PTI leaders were wounded after bullets were sprayed at the party’s long march near Wazirabad. The PTI chief had been shifted to the Shaukat Khanum Hospital in Lahore for treatment.

Also Read: PEMRA bans live coverage of PTI long march

The PTI Chief addressed his supporters from the hospital on Friday. He claimed that the attack on him had been planned by Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and a military man. He also demanded the resignations of the three government officials.