ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah asked Imran Khan’s lawyer whether he could justify the way the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman had questioned the patriotism of the armed forces.

Addressing a public gathering in Faisalabad on Sunday, Mr Khan had expressed apprehensions that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and former president Asif Ali Zardari were opposing snap elections because they wanted to “appoint an army chief of their choice” in November to save their skin in corruption cases. He insisted only a patriotic officer must be appointed to the top post on merit.

Justice Minallah, who was was hearing a petition against the ban on live coverage of Imran Khan’s speeches, condemned the “irresponsible” comments he made in his party’s rally regarding the next army chief’s appointment. The court had last week suspended the directives of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, which banned live coverage of Mr Khan’s speeches on electronic media.

Plea on Imran’s live coverage ban disposed of; Pemra directed to regulate in light of SC guidelines

During the hearing, Justice Minallah termed Mr Khan’s statement “irresponsible’, and asked the PTI chief’s counsel whether they could justify the remarks on the patriotism of armed forces’ officers, who were currently carrying out rescue and relief activities in flood-affected areas as well as laying down their lives for the country. He also asked the PTI counsel as to why their leadership was harming constitutional institutions that only added to their difficulties.

Justice Minallah, however, disposed of the petition on Monday, directing Pemra to regulate the issue in light of the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court.

Previously, the apex court had directed Pemra to devise a standard operating procedure for live coverage, in pursuant to which the electronic media had introduced a time-delay mechanism.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2022

Opinion

Editorial

A hasty retreat
Updated 28 Nov, 2024

A hasty retreat

Govt should not extend its campaign of violence against PTI and its leaders, thinking it now has the upper hand. Enough is enough.
Lebanon truce
28 Nov, 2024

Lebanon truce

WILL it hold? That is the question many in the Middle East and beyond will be asking after a 60-day ceasefire ...
MDR anomaly removed
28 Nov, 2024

MDR anomaly removed

THE State Bank’s decision to remove its minimum deposit rate requirement for conventional banks on deposits from...
Islamabad march
Updated 27 Nov, 2024

Islamabad march

WITH emotions running high, chaos closes in. As these words were being written, rumours and speculation were all...
Policing the internet
27 Nov, 2024

Policing the internet

IT is chilling to witness how Pakistan — a nation that embraced the freedoms of modern democracy, and the tech ...
Correcting sports priorities
27 Nov, 2024

Correcting sports priorities

IT has been a lingering battle that has cast a shadow over sports in Pakistan: who are the national sports...