KARACHI, Pakistan: Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan accused the government of temporarily blocking YouTube in the country on Sunday evening to prevent people from listening live to a speech he gave at a political rally.

The accusation came after Pakistan’s electronic media regulator late on Saturday announced a ban on the live airing of PTI chairperson’s speeches because of what it called his “hate speech” against state institutions.

“Imported govt blocked YouTube midway through my speech,” Imran Khan said on Twitter.

The PTI chief said that the act was not only a gross violation of freedom of speech but also negatively affected the digital media industry and the livelihoods of many.

A spokesman for the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, which regulates the internet in the country, did not immediately respond to a Reuters’ request for comment.

Imran Khan has been pushing for new elections in Pakistan after being ousted from power in April through a parliamentary vote. He has been delivering fiery speeches at gatherings across the country.

‘Provocative statements’

“Mr. Imran Khan… in his speeches/statements is continuously … leveling baseless allegations and spreading hate speech through his provocative statements against state institutions,” the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) said in its statement on Saturday.

PEMRA said it was, with immediate effect, prohibiting news channels from broadcasting his speeches live, but said recorded speeches could be aired.

PTI chief’s speeches were “prejudicial to the maintenance of law and order and likely to disturb public peace and tranquility”, PEMRA added.

Imran Khan’s party had said shortly after Saturday’s television ban it would go live on “500+ YouTube and Facebook channels”.

However, many social media users around Pakistan reported problems in accessing YouTube when the PTI chairperson was about to address a gathering on Sunday evening in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.

The ousted premier said in his speech on Sunday that he was being censored for not accepting the current coalition government which had voted him out of power.

The television ban came a day after Imran Khan hurled threats against Islamabad’s police chief and a female judge for what he claimed was the arrest and alleged torture of his close aide who is facing sedition charges. read more

On Sunday Islamabad police booked Imran Khan for threatening police officials and a judicial magistrate under Section 7 of the anti-terrorism act.