LHC orders PEMRA not to telecast anti-judiciary speeches of Nawaz, Shehbaz and other PML-N leaders

LAHORE - The Lahore High Court on Thursday ordered the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority to stop broadcasting and publishing speeches of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab chief minister Shehbaz and others, in which they have expressed sentiments against the judiciary.

Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheikh was hearing the case on the petition filed by a citizen Azhar Siddique, who stated that 16 politicians from ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had made anti-judiciary remarks in their speeches, which were broadcasted on media.

They include Khawaja Saad Rafique, Ishaq Dar, Talal Chaudhry, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Pervaiz Rasheed, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Abid Sher Ali, and Rana Sanaullah besides the Sharifs.

The speeches followed the Panama verdict, which led to the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif, the petitioner pointed out, adding that court should stop the speeches from being telecasted.

The petitioner further added that the transmission of Nawaz Sharif’s address to lawyers convention, to be held on August 25, be stopped as well.

However, the defence counsel argued that the allegations levelled in the petition should not be heard as it is inadmissible in court.

The court, while issuing notices to the PEMRA chairman and the Council of Complaints chairman, summoned them as well. LHC also ordered that the respondents should file a report on the matter by September 12.