Pemra bans broadcast of Imran’s speeches & statements amid his arrest attempt

•  ‘Imran constantly accusing state institutions’
• ‘He is spreading hate thru provocative statements’
• Islamabad Police arrive Lahore to arrest him.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has banned the broadcast of the speeches, talks and statements of Imran Khan on all TV channels with immediate effect as he is constantly criticising the state institutions.

In a statement issued by the media watchdog on Sunday, Imran Khan’s live and recorded speeches, statements and talks have been banned under Section 27 of PEMRA Ordinance.

It further said that in his speeches and statements, Imran Khan is constantly making baseless accusations against state institutions.

The statement said that Imran Khan is spreading hate through provocative statements, adding his statements is a threat to peace.

All TV channels have been issued instructions in this connection, it added.

PTI Senior leader Chaudhry Fawad Hussain in his tweet has lambasted the imported government for its undemocratic steps.

He said, “The government of thugs is completely panicked, in another nefarious attempt to suppress Imran Khan’s voice, today the imported government has banned the broadcast of Imran Khan’s speeches and statements on TV. We will challenge this order in court. Challenge the order itself.”

ٹھگوں کی حکومت مکمل گھبرا چکی ہے عمران خان کی آواز دبانے کی ایک اور مذموم کوشش میں آج امپورٹڈ حکومت نے عمران خان کی تقاریر اور بیانات کو ٹیوی پر چلانے پر پابندی عائد کر دی ہے، ہم اس حکم کو عدالت میں چیلنج کریں گے میڈیا اس حکم کو خود بھی چیلنج کرے

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) March 5, 2023

Earlier in the day, Islamabad Police arrived at Zaman Park in Lahore to arrest Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in Toshakhana case on Sunday, Bol News reported.

Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal issued arrest warrant for Imran Khan. The court said the PTI chief did not appear on his previous hearing date.

Date of February 28 is mentioned on the arrest warrant of additional session judge.

Islamabad Police said they had come to arrest the former prime minister in the Toshakhana case. Superintendent Police (City) Islamabad Hussain Tahir is leading the police team. Police said they had come to give the notice to appear in the court.

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Islamabad Police have requested the Lahore Police for assistance in arresting Imran Khan.

The PTI through its official Twitter account has asked party workers to reach Zaman Park immediately for protection of the party chief.

Senior PTI leader Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said any attempt to arrest Khan would gravely make the situation bad. “I want to warn this incompetent and anti-Pakistan government. Don’t push Pakistan into more crisis and work with sensibility,” he said asking PTI supporters to reach Zaman Park.

On March 2, a lower court had issued a written order regarding the non-bailable arrest warrants against PTI chairman Imran Khan in Toshakhana case.

District and Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal had issued the detailed order regarding the matter.

The court in its order had stated that Imran Khan was deciding his appearances as per his ‘priorities’. The court order had stated that the Toshakhana case was not the priority of the PTI chief. The court in its written order had instructed the Islamabad police to produce Imran Khan on March 7 after arresting the accused.

The order had noted that Imran Khan had been absent repeatedly from the hearing and he couldn’t appear even in the last hearing during the court’s time.

The order had added that Imran Khan had said in his application that he couldn’t appear before this court due to his attendance in the Judicial Complex before the banking court.