The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday rejected the petition seeking a ban on airing speeches of the former three-time prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif on the television channels, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah rejected the plea against Nawaz Sharif speech ban declared the petition inadmissible.

The IHC CJ remarked that the state is not so weak that mere political statements pose a threat to its security.

IHC also issued a four-page verdict that stated that the applicant did not present an argument on how Nawaz Sharif speeches violated his basic rights. “The claim of the petitioner that Nawaz Sharif speeches pose threatens the security of the state is just his interpretation,” the verdict stated.

“The court cannot directly intervene when there was an alternative procedure in the law and banning Nawaz Sharif speeches was not a case of public importance,” IHC CJ remarked.

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Friday criticised the government and Pemra for imposing a ban on the broadcast of speeches of ‘proclaimed offenders and absconders’.

It is pertinent to note that electronic media regulator issued prohibition order to broadcast former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif speeches on Thursday after his address to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s central working committee via video link from London.