LHC bans airing of ‘anti-judiciary speeches’ by Nawaz, Maryam

An order was given by the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday that has restricted all TV channels from temporarily airing anti-judiciary speeches by deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and other lawmakers.

Apart from the father-daughter duo, derogatory speeches by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and some ministers of Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) have also been banned from airing.

According to local media reports, the LHC has referred the petitions to Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), giving it 15 days to decide on the petitions. Until PEMRA has decided on the pending petitions, no alleged 'anti-judiciary speeches' made by the former premier, Maryam or any of the others would be aired.

A three-judge full bench, headed by Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, comprising Justice Atir Mahmood and Justice Chaudhry Masood Jahangir resumed the hearing of several contempt petitions against Sharif, Maryam and other PML-N leaders.

Since the Supreme Court's verdict in disqualifying Nawaz as the prime minister last year, the PML-N leaders have openly been targeting the judiciary in their speeches.