World News | Pak Media Regulatory Body Ordered to Provide 'unrestricted' Media Coverage to Imran Khan, Other Candidates
Get latest articles and stories on World at LatestLY. A top Pakistani court on Wednesday lifted the ban on the media coverage of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan and his party, directing the electronic media regulator to ensure the implementation of its order as the country goes to polls on February 8.
Lahore, Jan 31 (PTI) A top Pakistani court on Wednesday lifted the ban on the media coverage of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan and his party, directing the electronic media regulator to ensure the implementation of its order as the country goes to polls on February 8.
The order was passed by the Lahore High Court (LHC) on a petition filed last year by the 71-year-old cricketer-turned-politician against the ban on his name and speeches on TV channels by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA).
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party supremo challenged the ban in court, arguing that PEMRA's order was “purely driven out of vengeance”, after which the LHC directed the media regulatory authority to “ensure a level playing field for all political parties in broadcasting their content and speeches.”
The media coverage of Khan and his party was banned since early May last year following the attack on military installations allegedly by his party workers in reaction to his arrest. The broadcast media was even not allowed to display his picture and name on TV screens.
PEMRA had imposed restrictions on the satellite TV channels media to broadcast/rebroadcast speeches, press talks (recorded or live) of Khan. The PTI has blamed "hidden hands" (military establishment) for the PEMRA order.
In a written order issued on Wednesday, Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza noted that the Electronic Media (Programmes and Advertisements) Code of Conduct directed all media channels that any political programme should be conducted objectively, guaranteeing representation of all political parties.
“Clearly, the allegation agitated before this court by the petitioner is that the media channels breached the code of conduct when his [Khan's] name was not even allowed to be taken in the programmes,” the order said.
It said the issue assumed greater significance as “the general elections for National Assembly and the four provincial assemblies are on the horizon”.
Asserting that “meaningful participation” in the electoral process required “informed citizenry”, the order said that people must be provided with "the best and accurate information about the candidates and political parties they are likely to make the choice from.”
Considering the upcoming general elections, the court directed the PEMRA to "strictly ensure that the petitioner and candidates of all political parties are given free and unrestricted access to media platforms/channels without any constraints from any quarters”.
The order said the government “has no right to prevent the media from covering certain candidates or political parties”. It reiterated that the election process should contribute to a level playing field where all political parties and candidates can communicate their message to the people through all mediums.
“Similarly, the media platforms must be able to provide unconstrained access to candidates belonging to all political parties to transmit their opinions and manifestos to the public, enabling them to make informed choices,” it said.
Meanwhile, the PTI says despite the LHC's order it does not see its execution by the media houses because they have been under immense pressure from the establishment in this regard.
Khan's PTI party has suffered back-to-back setbacks ahead of the February 8 general elections. Earlier in the day, an accountability court sentenced the PTI founder and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment in a corruption case.
On Tuesday, top party leaders Khan and ex-foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi were sentenced to 10 years in prison by a special court for leaking sensitive state secrets.
(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)