Federal government overturns PEMRA order

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 6 November 2022

The federal government reversed PEMRA's decision to ban Imran Khan's speeches. This action followed directives from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Summary

ISLAMABAD—Electronic media regulator PEMRA's decision to ban broadcasting of Imran Khan's speech was reversed an hour later by the federal government.

PEMRA had ordered banning the broadcast of Khan's speech and press conferences on satellite TV networks. It saw them as "hateful, slanderous, vilifying and unwarranted statements" against the country's leadership and state institutions.

However, the federal government later directed PEMRA to remove the ban by applying Section 5.

Federal Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had instructed PEMRA to end the prohibition.

Section 5 of the PEMRA Ordinance allows the federal government to suspend the powers of authority in certain circumstances, the minister said.

Photo credit: moib.gov.pk

KEY POINTS:

• PEMRA initially banned Imran Khan's speech due to alleged hateful statements.
• The federal government intervened to lift the ban under Section 5.
• Federal Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb confirmed the reversal.
• Section 5 allows the federal government to suspend PEMRA's authority.
• This decision highlights tensions between the government and media regulation.