Pakistan TV News Channel’s license suspended for airing Imran Khan’s speech

A private television station in Pakistan has had its license suspended for airing a video clip of a speech by Pakistan’s former prime minister and Tehreek-e-Insaf Party (PTI) chairman Imran Khan. The name of the news based TV channel is ARY News.

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) canceled the license on Monday, alleging in a statement that Imran Khan’s speech contained “baseless allegations” and “hate speech” against the state. It said that by broadcasting it, the TV channel has violated Article 19 of the Constitution. Due to this, the license of ARY News is being suspended. This suspension will remain in force until further orders, it said.

News channels quoted an ARY News official as saying that PEMRA had only suspended TV’s license.

Earlier on Sunday, PEMRA banned the broadcast of Imran Khan’s speech or comments. The organization then said that Imran Khan is making baseless allegations against state institutions and spreading hate speech.

Meanwhile, on Monday, the court rejected Imran Khan’s application to cancel the arrest warrant in the Tosakhana case. Earlier on Sunday, the police failed to try to arrest Imran Khan.