Pemra bans airing of Imran's speeches with immediate effect.

ISLAMABAD -- The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Sunday prohibited the broadcasting and rebroadcasting of speeches and press talks by PTI chief Imran Khan on all satellite TV channels with immediate effect.

The ban comes hours after the PTI chairman addressed party workers outside his Zaman Park residence in Lahore and said that he had never 'bowed before any man or institution, and will never let you do so as well'. He also lashed out at government leaders, alleging that they had stashed their wealth overseas and were given protection in legal cases by former army chief Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa.

In the prohibition order, a copy of which is available with media, the regulator referred to previous directives wherein all licencees were directed to 'refrain from telecasting any content against state institutions'.

The authority noted that Imran, in his speeches and statements, was '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.'

Pemra said that licencees telecasted the content without the effective utilisation of the time delay mechanism, in violation of the authority's laws and judgements by the apex court.

'... therefore, the competent authority i.e. chairman Pemra in view of the above mentioned background and reasons, in exercise of delegated powers of the authority vested in Section 27(a) of the Pemra Ordinance 2002 as amended by Pemra (Amendment) Act 2007, hereby prohibits broadcast/rebroadcast of speech(s)/press talks (recorded or live) of Imran Khan on all satellite TV channels with immediate effect,' the order said.

The authority also directed all satellite TV channels to ensure that an 'impartial editorial board' is constituted to ensure that their platforms is not used by anyone for 'uttering remarks in any manner which...