A tricky situation appeared after a ban was imposed by the Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority on the airing of live speeches of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan. Khan’s supporters have termed the decision unjustified and described it as a curb on free speech. Though the ban has brought provocative harangues uttered by PTI leaders to a halt, yet in this age, it is not possible to silence one’s voice due to the availability of free media across the world and the impact of social media. Wisdom demands one to be conscious while making any statement because hurling accusations without any proof is a wrong policy. Khan’s criticism of the judiciary and establishment has brought him face to face with powerful institutions. Mainly Imran Khan has been leading the onslaught and he has made a number of speeches while making a direct attack on the judiciary and the neutrality of the army establishment. So far Shehbaz Gill has been facing a trial for making scathing criticism of the institution of the army while a decision has yet to be made about the arrest of Imran Khan.
The slapping of the ban should be taken positively. The way Imran Khan used to speak against institutions is not acceptable. Often he indulged in making remarks that could be interpreted as inciting people to stand against the judiciary and establishment. The PTI leadership needs to understand that there are limits to freedom of expression. Nobody can be allowed to speak in a way that invites a direct clash between institutions. Being the chief of a mainstream political party, Imran Khan should think twice before uttering inflammatory words. He should be conscious of the dangers involved in loose talking.
In this scenario, the role of PEMRA is very important. Being a media watchdog authority, it is the responsibility of PEMRA to act itself against the airing of any malicious material that can create a crisis or can lead to clashes between top institutions of the country. Undoubtedly, the recent speeches of the PTI leadership had raised fears of conflict and violence. The issue has also emerged with a bang on the internet and social media.
The PTI chief has a history of first hurling allegations against his opponents and national institutions like ECP and judiciary and then taking u-turns. It has become a typical Imran Khan style. First attack someone, humiliate and harass them on the public media and then backtrack. It has become a norm that if Imran takes a stand over an issue, others are expected by him to automatically support it otherwise they must be ready to face his wrath. He has already been accused of taking U-turns on various occasions and the latest development has further damaged the credibility of the PTI. Imran Khan should demonstrate maturity and act more responsibly now. After all, he is the head of a mainstream political party and he should adhere to some ethics and moral values.
