IHC sets aside PEMRA order banning Imran Khan’s live speeches. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) declared null and void the order of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to ban live telecasts of Imran Khan.
IHC in its written order issued on Tuesday, “set aside” the Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority’s (Pemra) ban on the live telecast of Imran Khan’s 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 licensees in accordance with the law.”
At the hearing of the case on Monday, the IHC disposed of Imran’s petition.
IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah, in a written order, said the counsel of the watchdog was “not able to satisfy the court that a blanket prohibition order could be passed under Section 27 of the Pemra Ordinance”.
The law states that the authority can, by order in writing and giving reasons, prohibit any broadcast media or distribution service operator from “broadcasting or re-broadcasting or distributing any program or advertisement if it is of the opinion that such a particular program or advertisement is against the ideology of Pakistan or is likely to create hatred among the people or is prejudicial to the maintenance of law and order”.
On August 21st, PEMRA slapped a ban on the telecast of live speeches of Imran Khan on all TV channels with immediate effect.
Imran khan said that the ban was illegal, and unlawful, more than its jurisdiction. It is contrary to the fundamental rights under the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973.