ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court suspended on Monday the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority order to ban the live telecast of PTI chief Imran Khan’s speeches, whle observing that the order should be rescinded.

“With hindsight, Pemra overstepped its authority by banning Imran Khan’s speeches,” the court said.

Pemra prohibited the broadcast of live speeches of PTI Chairman Imran Khan on all satellite TV channels on August 20 following the latter’s apparent comments against the federal capital police heads during a speech in Rawalpindi.

Imran had announced that PTI would move the Supreme Court against Gill’s arrest and alleged torture, and would also seek legal action against the Islamabad police chief and his deputy as well as the magistrate who sent Shahbaz Gill on physical remand.

But the tone of such language prompted Pemra to ban the PTI leader’s live speeches. “You [Islamabad IG, DIG and magistrate] all should be ashamed,” it quoted an excerpt from the PTI chief’s speech where he criticised police.

“There is no good reason to ban Imran Khan’s speech in the current situation,” IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah said while presiding over the PTI’s petition against Pemra’s ban on the live telecast of party chief Imran Khan’s speech.

The court ruled that Pemra notification would remain suspended till September 5 and ordered that the media regulatory should nominate one person, who will appear in front of the court to explain the issuance of the notification.

The decision comes as PTI chief Imran Khan is scheduled to hold a telethon to raise funds for flood victims today (Monday) from 9:30pm to 12 midnight. Flash floods triggered by heavy rains have so far killed more than 1,000 people and displaced over 33 million people.

More to follow