PTI to challenge ban on Imran Khan's speeches, section 144 in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to move courts against a ban on speeches of party Chairman Imran Khan and imposition of section 144 in Islamabad, ARY NEWS reported.

The decisions were taken during a meeting headed by Imran Khan today.

During the meeting, the legal experts said that imposition of section 144 of the penal laws for a longer duration is against the basic constitutional rights.

It was also decided to challenge a ban on live speeches of Imran Khan in the court with Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) to be made respondents in the case. The chief secretaries and inspector generals of police in provinces will also be made respondents in the case.

“The court has already lifted a ban on speeches and therefore there is no justification for a ban on live speeches of Imran Khan,” the party agreed during the meeting.

On September 06, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) nullified the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s (Pemra) order to ban the live telecast of PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s speeches.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah issued three-page written order on ex-prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s plea challenging the Pemra ban against his live speeches.

In a written judgment, the court observed that counsel, who appeared on behalf of PEMRA, was not able to satisfy the Court that a blanket prohibition order could be passed under section 27 of the PEMRA Ordinance.

The judgment further reads: “if media channels “fail to implement directions regarding delaying mechanism, then PEMRA will be expected to proceed against such delinquent licencees in accordance with the law.”

The petition – challenging the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s (PEMRA) ban on live telecast of speech – was filed by Imran Khan’s lawyers, who requested the court to set aside the order of the ban.