License of Pakistan’s ARY news channel suspended, action taken due to broadcast of Imran Khan’s speech

Pakistan’s private news channel ARY TV was taken off air today for airing former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s address. Pakistan’s media regulator banned the telecast of the ousted prime minister’s speeches on the night of 5 March. In the past also action was taken against the broadcaster. Last night, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) banned satellite television channels from airing live broadcasts and recorded speeches of the 70-year-old politician after the Islamabad police failed to arrest him.

ARY News is considered a pro-Imran Khan channel. But currently its services are not available and a message of restriction is showing on the screen. The PEMRA order said that it has been observed that, Imran Khan, Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, in his speeches/statements, is continuously making baseless allegations and through his provocative statements against the institutions and officials of the State. Spreading hate speeches, which is detrimental to the maintenance of Pakistan.

The news agency report states that the telecast of hateful, slanderous and unwarranted statements against the institutions of the State “is in blatant violation of Article 19 of the Constitution and a judgment of the Supreme Court. Therefore, the Competent Authority i.e. the Chairman of PEMRA…is hereby Broadcasting/re-broadcasting of Imran Khan’s speech(s)/press conference (recorded or live) on all satellite TV channels with immediate effect.Regulator bans all satellite TV channels from broadcasting electronic media (programs and advertisements) Directed to ensure formation of unbiased editorial board under section 17 of the Code of Conduct 2015 to ensure that platforms are not used to make derogatory remarks against state institutions.