Response came as LHC heard petition filed by PTI’s Akmal Bari, alleging restriction on using Imran’s name on TV
Court Reporter
Islamabad: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has submitted a written response to the Lahore High Court, denying any directive or ban on broadcasting the name of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan on television.
The response came as Justice Farooq Haider heard a petition filed by PTI member Akmal Khan Bari, alleging a restriction on using the PTI founder’s name in television broadcasts.
PEMRA, however, clarified that it had issued no notification or order to this effect.
In its detailed report to the court, PEMRA stated that the petitioner failed to present evidence of any such restriction imposed by the regulatory authority.
PEMRA also argued that the petitioner’s case is pending within PEMRA’s own proceedings, and thus the application before the Lahore High Court is inadmissible.
The federal government’s counsel supported this view, stating that, per PEMRA’s ordinance, the case does not qualify for court hearing.
With the petitioner’s lawyer absent, an assisting attorney informed the court of the lawyer’s commitments at the Supreme Court.
Following these proceedings, the court postponed the case indefinitely.
The petition argues that news channels are violating fundamental rights by refraining from mentioning the PTI founder’s name and urges the court to direct media outlets to lift the alleged restriction.
 has submitted a written response to the Lahore High Court, denying any){kind=link}