LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday upheld objection, raised by Registrar Office, in petition challenging ban by PEMRA on the broadcast of speeches and press talks by PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
Also read: PEMRA imposes ban on broadcasting Imran Khan’s speeches, statements
LHC’s Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan heard the arguments on the objection raised by the registrar office to Imran Khan’s application.
On Sunday, it may be recalled, the media watchdog had imposed the ban on broadcasting live and recorded speeches of the deposed prime minister on all satellite TV channels with immediate effect, citing “provocative statements against the state institutions and their officers.”
The ban was imposed hours after the ousted premier delivered a hard-hitting speech outside his Zaman Park residence in Lahore following a police team’s arrival there to arrest him in the Toshakhana case.
For the third time in nearly seven months, it prohibited Mr Khan’s speeches and press talks from being aired on TV channels.A similar restriction had previously been set aside by the Islamabad High Court on Sept 6, 2022, for violating fundamental rights. Another was quickly withdrawn by the PDM government in November for ‘being against democratic norms’.
Also read: PEMRA suspends ARY’s licence for broadcasting Imran Khan’s statement
The PTI Chief yesterday (Monday) filed a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC), seeking annulment of a ban on the broadcast of his speeches and press talks by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra).
However, Lahore High Court’s registrar office raised objection to the petition, saying the petitioner did not enclose an attested copy of the Pemra ban۔
Today, LHC’s Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan heard the arguments on the objection raised by the registrar office to Imran Khan’s application, and decided to uphold the same, thus disposing off the petition.
Also read: PTI moves LHC against PEMRA’s ban on Imran Khan’s speeches
