Imran's speeches are immediately forbidden by PEMRA

Imran Khan's speeches and press conferences cannot be broadcast or repeated on any satellite TV channels as of right away, according to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), which issued the ban on Sunday.

After addressing party members outside of his Zaman Park mansion in Lahore and promising that he would never allow them to bow down to anyone or anything, the PTI leader issued the ban. Besides attacking the government, he also accused former army chief Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa of protecting them in court cases and hiding their riches abroad. The regulator pointed to prior directions where all licensees were instructed to "refrain from telecasting any content against state institutions" in the prohibition order.

PEMRA, the regulatory body that oversees electronic media in Pakistan, stated that the ban was imposed due to the repeated violation of the Code of Conduct for electronic media. According to the regulatory body, Imran Khan's speeches often contain hate speech, incite violence, and are inflammatory. PEMRA has also accused the Prime Minister of using electronic media to promote his political agenda and to target his opponents.

The ban has not been received well by Imran Khan's supporters who argue that the move is an attack on freedom of speech. Many Pakistanis have taken to social media to express their outrage at the ban, with some calling it an attempt to stifle dissent.

However, others support the ban, citing the need to maintain responsible and ethical media that does not incite violence or hatred. They argue that the media has a responsibility to report the news in an unbiased and impartial manner and that Imran Khan's speeches often do not meet these standards.

The ban has also raised questions about the role of PEMRA in regulating electronic media in Pakistan. Some critics argue that the regulatory body has not been effective in enforcing the Code of Conduct, leading to the need for a ban on Imran Khan's speeches. Others argue that the ban sets a dangerous precedent, and could be used to silence other political leaders and critics in the future. The former premier's speeches have already been prohibited by the media watchdog. On August 21 of last year, Pemra imposed a blanket ban on live coverage of Imran's speeches after he allegedly threatened Zeba Chaudhry, the ADSJ, and the IG and DIG of the Islamabad Police with "consequences" after the judge gave the ex-aide, PM's Shahbaz Gill, to police for two days in physical custody. Imran then petitioned the Islamabad High Court (IHC), which on September 6, 2022, overturned the prohibition.

Imran Khan's speeches and press conferences cannot be broadcast or repeated on any satellite TV channels as of right away, according to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), which issued the ban on Sunday.

After addressing party members outside of his Zaman Park mansion in Lahore and promising that he would never allow them to bow down to anyone or anything, the PTI leader issued the ban. Besides attacking the government, he also accused former army chief Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa of protecting them in court cases and hiding their riches abroad. The regulator pointed to prior directions where all licensees were instructed to "refrain from telecasting any content against state institutions" in the prohibition order.

PEMRA, the regulatory body that oversees electronic media in Pakistan, stated that the ban was imposed due to the repeated violation of the Code of Conduct for electronic media. According to the regulatory body, Imran Khan's speeches often contain hate speech, incite violence, and are inflammatory. PEMRA has also accused the Prime Minister of using electronic media to promote his political agenda and to target his opponents.

The ban has not been received well by Imran Khan's supporters who argue that the move is an attack on freedom of speech. Many Pakistanis have taken to social media to express their outrage at the ban, with some calling it an attempt to stifle dissent.

However, others support the ban, citing the need to maintain responsible and ethical media that does not incite violence or hatred. They argue that the media has a responsibility to report the news in an unbiased and impartial manner and that Imran Khan's speeches often do not meet these standards.

The ban has also raised questions about the role of PEMRA in regulating electronic media in Pakistan. Some critics argue that the regulatory body has not been effective in enforcing the Code of Conduct, leading to the need for a ban on Imran Khan's speeches. Others argue that the ban sets a dangerous precedent, and could be used to silence other political leaders and critics in the future. The former premier's speeches have already been prohibited by the media watchdog. On August 21 of last year, Pemra imposed a blanket ban on live coverage of Imran's speeches after he allegedly threatened Zeba Chaudhry, the ADSJ, and the IG and DIG of the Islamabad Police with "consequences" after the judge gave the ex-aide, PM's Shahbaz Gill, to police for two days in physical custody. Imran then petitioned the Islamabad High Court (IHC), which on September 6, 2022, overturned the prohibition.