The Lahore High Court has adjourned hearing on a petition filed by former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan challenging the jurisdiction of PEMRA to issue a blanket prohibition order to all TV channels from broadcasting his speeches and statements till March 20, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

A three-judge LHC bench headed by Chief Justice Muhammed Ameer Bhatti and comprising Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza and Justice Sajid Mehmood Sethi heard the petition on Monday.

PTI Chief Imran Khan filed a plea against the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s decision to bar all satellite TV channels from broadcasting his speeches and press talks.

A single-bench of LHC comprising Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza on Thursday suspended the PEMRA’s ban on Imran’s speeches and requested the court to form full bench to hear the case. 

During today’s hearing, the court directed to bind together Imran’s petition with other similar petitions. 

It also directed the PEMRA’s lawyers to give their arguments about the jurisdiction of the media regulatory body regarding issuing the prohibition order during next hearing.  

The court also extended its suspension order regarding PEMRA ban given in Imran and other cases. 

The PTI chief in his petition stated that PEMRA had issued the order “in excess of the jurisdiction vested in it and without having regard to the constitutional rights guaranteed under Articles 19 and 19-A of the Constitution”. It further contended that the authority was not empowered to issue a blanket prohibition order, which appears to be “in violation of the principle of proportionality”.

Reporter Malik Ashraf