Pakistan’s ARY News taken off air for broadcasting Imran Khan’s speech

The suspension got here hours after Pakistan’s media regulator, on Sunday evening, banned broadcasts of the ousted prime minister’s speeches.

New Delhi,UPDATED: Mar 6, 2023 17:50 IST

ARY News is taken into account to be sympathetic in direction of Imran Khan (Representational/Twitter)

By India Today World Desk: Pakistan’s non-public information channel ARY TV has been taken off air right now for broadcasting former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s handle on Sunday. This got here hours after Pakistan’s media regulator, on Sunday evening, banned broadcasts of the ousted prime minister’s speeches.

Against was taken in opposition to the broadcaster up to now as properly.

Last evening, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) banned satellite tv for pc tv channels from broadcasting dwell and recorded speeches of the 70-year-old politician after the Islamabad Police did not arrest him.

ARY, thought-about sympathetic in direction of Khan, shouldn’t be presently out there – a message of the ban flashes on the display.

Also Read | Pakistan media regulator bans Imran Khan’s speeches. How he evaded arrest in Toshakhana case

“It has been observed that Mr Imran Khan, Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, in his speeches/statements is continuously… levelling 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 tranquillity,” the PEMRA order learn.

It mentioned that the airing of hateful, slanderous and unwarranted statements in opposition to state establishments is “in sheer violation of Article 19 of the Constitution and a judgment of the Supreme Court”, reported information company PTI.

“Therefore, the competent authority i.e. Chairman PEMRA…hereby prohibits broadcast/rebroadcast of speech(s)/press talks (recorded or live) of Mr Imran Khan on all satellite TV channels with immediate effect.”

The regulator directed all satellite tv for pc TV channels to make sure the structure of neutral editorial boards underneath Clause 17 of the Electronic Media (Programmes and Advertisement) Code of Conduct 2015 to make sure the platforms will not be used to air contemptuous remarks in opposition to state establishments.

Also Read | ‘When prime leaders are criminals…’: Imran Khan amid arrest warrant in presents case

In case of non-compliance, the licenses of TV channels can be suspended, PEMRA warned.

It shouldn’t be the primary time that PEMRA has taken motion in opposition to Khan. It had earlier prohibited the printed and re-broadcast of speeches and press conferences of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief final November as properly. However, the federal authorities revoked the ban the identical day.

Yesterday, the Islamabad Police went to Lahore to arrest Imran Khan with a non-bailable arrest warrant after Khan missed a number of courtroom appearances.

But the previous PM was not residence. He later appeared and delivered a scathing speech from outdoors his residence. This speech was aired by the information channel, resulting in the suspension.

Also Read | Protests outdoors Imran Khan’s Lahore residence in opposition to his arrest in Toshakhana case: 5 factors

Published On:

Mar 6, 2023