ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court Monday suspended the order of the (PEMRA) that banned the broadcast of Imran Khan’s speeches live on TV.
The order came today through the hearing of a petition filed by the PTI chairman towards the ban imposed by the media regulator earlier this month after.
During the course of the proceedings, Barristers Ali Zafar urged the court to raise the PEMRA’s ban as the PTI chairman needed to do a live telecast later today to raise funds for flood affected.
After hearing the arguments, the IHC suspended the notification and issued notices to the regulatory authority and Attorney-General of Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf Ali.
The PEMRA ban came into place on August 21 after the PTI chairman threatened state establishments and government officers with serious penalties.
PEMRA’s notification stated that Khan’s addresses are in open violation of the regulator’s rules and Article 19 of the Constitution of Pakistan.
According to the regulator, the ban has been put in place under Part 27 of the PEMRA Ordinance 2002. The PEMRA notification cited Khan’s speech at the F9 Park, Islamabad as the reason behind the ban.
Apart from the ban, Imran Khan can be facing contempt of court proceedings for threatening Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry throughout the same speech.
The IHC has constituted a five-member bigger bench to listen to the contempt of court case towards the former prime minister and issued a notice to him to appear before the court on August 31.
