By Special Correspondent
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday suspended the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s orders to ban the live telecast of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief and former prime minister Imran Khan’s speeches and press talks.
Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza, after announcing the judgment, sent the matter to the full bench for hearing and adjourned the proceedings till 13th of March.
On Sunday, PEMRA slapped a ban on Imran Khan’s speeches and press talks with “immediate effect” after he had criticized former army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa for what he termed “protecting incumbent rulers in their alleged corruption cases”.
Subsequently, the PTI chairman approached the court. He argued that the order of the media regulator was “purely driven out of vengeance”.
As the LHC took up the petition on Thursday, Justice Mirza asked how such a ban could be imposed on the chief of a political party. This was against freedom of speech.
However, PEMRA’s lawyer argued that the case should be heard by a full bench.
Ban on speeches a violation of human rights
On the other hand, Imran Kahn’s counsel Barrister Muhammad Ahmad Pansota argued that PEMRA’s ban on the former premier’s speeches and press talks was a violation of fundamental rights provided under the constitution. He also requested the court to set aside the Authority’s order.
