Pakistan: Imran evades arrest, media regulator bans his speeches on TV
Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: Hours after controversial former Prime Minister Imran Khan dodged arrest in the Toshakhana corruption case and made ‘provocative statements’ against state institutions on Sunday, Pakistan’s electronic media watchdog banned satellite TV channels from broadcasting his live and recorded speeches with immediate effect.
Evading arrest, Khan, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman, addressed thousands of party workers outside his Zaman Park residence in Lahore, saying he has never “bowed before any man or institution.” His supporters claimed to the waiting police that he was “unavailable” for arrest.
Khan reiterated that government leaders had stashed away their wealth overseas under the protection of former Pakistan Army chief General (Retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa, the media reported.
Citing previous orders directing licensees to ‘refrain from telecasting any content against state institutions,’ Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) said Khan was “leveling baseless allegations and spreading hate through his provocative statements against state institutions and officers which is prejudicial to the maintenance of law and order and is likely to disturb public peace and tranquillity.”
Such content was telecasted by TV channels without effective utilization of a time-delay mechanism in violation of provisions of PEMRA laws as well as judgments of the apex courts, the regulator said and warned TV channels that their license would be suspended in case of non-compliance.
The developments came after Islamabad Police reached Khan’s Lahore residence on Sunday to arrest him in the Toshakhana case, but returned after his legal team’s assurance that he would appear before the court on March 7.
Meanwhile, in a letter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Imran Khan cited the security risks he faces in the light of credible threats of a ‘second assassination attempt.’
Complaining of not being provided adequate security despite being the country’s former PM, he alleged that the current prime minister and the interior minister were involved in the ‘failed assassination attempt’ against him.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice-Chairman and Former Foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said there was no mention of “arrest” in the warrants.
An Islamabad sessions court had issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against him last week and adjourned the hearing until March 7 because of his repeated failure to appear before the court.
