All satellite TV stations in Pakistan are prohibited by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) from airing live or previously recorded speeches by Imran Khan, the former prime minister and current chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
The media watchdog agency issued an order on Sunday to all public and private TV stations saying, “it has been observed that Mr. Imran Khan, Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, in his speeches/statements is continuously alleging state institutions by leveling baseless allegations and spreading hate speech through his provocative statements against state institutions and officers which is prejudicial to the maintenance of law and order and is likely to disturb public peace and tranquility.”
Airing hostile, defamatory, and unjustified words against state institutions is “in plain contravention of Article 19 of the Constitution and a judgment of the Supreme Court,” according to PEMRA.
PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry responded by calling the action a “nefarious attempt to silence Imran Khan’s speech.”
