PEMRA limits on in live telecast of PTI Chairman Imran Khan public performances are attack on constitutional right to liberty of expression.
Not satisfied with prohibition, power also violated live stream of his last address on YouTube.
Despite, former prime minister known for slander and threats to his political opponents, critics and journalists, censoring his words is a violation of his basic rights. Therefore, the restrictions must be lifted immediately.
In an attempt to justify your decision media The regulator blamed Mr Khan of “spreading hatred” and leveling unfounded accusations against government agencies, police officials and additional hearings judge for in arrest and alleged torture in places of detention of his boss of employees.
However, this clear from his order that Pemra interpreted Article 19 of the Constitution guaranteeing the right to freedom of speech, and also suggests circumstances in to which this right may be limited, in way contrary to the spirit of article, in for arbitrary censorship of Mr. Khan’s views.
The ban is unacceptable, even though PTI itself has tried to silence a wide range of of mainstream and social media silence dissent during its rule. Instead of of punishment policy, pemra should channeled to use time delay mechanism for blocking out offensive terms or simply left case to the courts.
The accusations that led Pemra to order TV stations to censor Mr Khan did not justify its intervention. If he said anything illegal or threatened government officials and bailiffs, he should be continued against in accordance with the law of Earth.
Edition: Free Speech Killing
what a ban on Mr Khan came a few days after ARIlicense has been revoked for making controversial statements made his boss of Staff Shahbaz Gill shows led by PML-N coalition government in poor man light.
Is not first a time when a popular political leader was subject to such restrictions. We have seen in the past how the courts and other authorities have ordered the expulsion of politicians from TV screens after they have fallen. out with those in power.
In 2015, a court decision imposed a ban on MQM founder Altaf Hussein. In 2020, Pemra banned channels from broadcasting speeches, interviews and public appeals of fugitives and declared criminals, a directive directed at PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif.
By using Pemra to silence dissent government crushed the former authority and turned it into body used to control freedom of political speech, not as a regulator of TV channels. Using laws to curb political dissent bad policy.
These tactics of repressive police state scared of disagreement. Frequent reference to these tactics never worked. But it hurt the democracy that thrives on right to freedom of self-expression and freedom of speech.
Published in Dawn, August 23, 2022
