LAHORE: The Lahore High Court will hear Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan’s two petitions today (Thursday) as the former prime minister is embroiled in a legal battle.
The high court will hear two separate petitions – one filed by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) against the ban on Khan’s speeches and the other where the PTI chief seeks court hearings due to security “threats”. I am trying to participate online.
In the online hearing petition, the PTI chief has also requested the High Court to provide “foolproof security arrangements” and ensure their safety and welfare under the Constitution of Pakistan.
The petition further asked that Khan be spared “systematic ‘politically motivated’ false cases filed against him with only one agenda, so that he survives the murder attack in Wazirabad.” After that, they can be ‘targeted’ again.”
In his plea, the PTI chairman has sought permission for all those present in the court premises to mark attendance and participate in the court proceedings through video link on the basis of “serious risk and danger”.
The petition further said that strict action should be taken against the state machinery if it fails to maintain law and order in the court during the hearing of the said cases.
In his plea, the former prime minister has asked the court to ensure that no “adverse action (including arrest)” is taken against him “unless he is properly facilitated and the court Adequate safeguards should be provided for attendance and appearance”.
Khan has also sought any other relief which the court deems fit and proper to be extended to him.
Meanwhile, in a petition against PEMRA’s ban, the PTI chief said the exercise of powers by the media watchdog was “unreasonable[e]” and a violation of constitutional provisions.
The ousted prime minister also said that in a similar case, former Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court Athar Minullah had declared PEMRA’s decision to ban Khan from the airwaves as unconstitutional.
The petition also said that the PEMRA order was “passed with the objective of controlling Pakistan’s independent media and forcing them to expose the nefarious intentions of the government”.
“The impugned order is liable to be set aside […] the impugned order is purely driven out of vengeance,” the plea added.
He demanded that the court declare PEMRA’s order “illegal, without lawful authority”.
