Sheikh Rashid, PM Imran at odds over live coverage of Nawaz’s fiery speech

Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has expressed his displeasure over Prime Minister Imran Khan’s decision of allowing ousted premier and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif to deliver a fiery speech against state institutions.

“Nawaz Sharif has declared a war against Pakistan Army which is a greatest army in the world. A man [Nawaz], who once was nurtured in the military’s nursery himself, is now speaking against it [army],” he said on Saturday while addressing a news conference in Lahore.

“If I were in his [PM Imran] place, I would have never allowed Nawaz’s speech to be aired. The prime minister made the wrong decision,” he maintained.

Nawaz, the three-time prime minister, broke his long silence during the PPP-hosted multiparty confab on September 20, taking his ‘vote ko izzat do’ mantra to the next level by declaring that the opposition was not up against PM Imran but those who had brought him into power in the 2018 elections.

In his other addresses to the party workers, he accused the military establishment and other state institutions for meddling into the political and parliamentary affairs of the country.

Meanwhile, a petition has also been filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), seeking a ban on speeches of Nawaz and PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif.

According to Express News, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah has fixed the petition for hearing on October 5.

The application was moved by a citizen, Amir Aziz who has made Nawaz, Shehbaz, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) chairman and others respondents in his petition. He contended in his application that the convicted former premier during his recent speeches maligned the state institutions and a convict’s speech cannot be allowed to broadcast on media.

Pemra on Thursday banned broadcast and rebroadcast of any speech, interview or public address of absconders or proclaimed offenders.

The regulatory body in a statement — a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune — prohibited the broadcasting of content including commentary, opinions or suggestions about the potential fate of sub-judice matter which tends to prejudice the determination by a court and a tribunal in compliance with the order passed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

"If licensee fails to comply with the aforementioned directives, the authority shall take action under Section 29 and 30 of PEMRA Ordinance which may result in imposition of fine and suspension/revocation of licence," it added.

The decision came at a time when Nawaz— who left for London late last year after securing bail for medical treatment in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case and the Al Azizia reference — has been targeting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led government as well as many state institutions including judiciary and the military.