Ex-Pakistan PM Imran Khan accuses government of blocking YouTube to censor his speech

The accusation came after Pakistan’s electronic media regulator announced a ban on the live broadcast of Khan’s speeches because of ‘hate speech’

Khan’s speeches were ‘prejudicial to the maintenance of law and order and likely to disturb public peace and tranquillity,’ the regulator said

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Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan. Photo: Reuters

Published: 3:22am, 22 Aug 2022Updated: 9:14am, 22 Aug 2022

Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan accused the government of temporarily blocking YouTube in the country on Sunday evening to prevent people from listening live to a speech he gave at a political rally.

The accusation came after Pakistan’s electronic media regulator late on Saturday announced a ban on the live broadcast of Khan’s speeches because of what it called his “hate speech” against state institutions.

“Imported govt blocked YouTube midway through my speech,” Khan said on Twitter.

Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan addresses supporters in Rawalpindi, Pakistan on Sunday. Photo: EPA-EFE

A spokesman for the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, which regulates the internet in the country, did not immediately respond to a Reuters’ request for comment.

Khan has been pushing for new elections in Pakistan after being ousted from power in April through a parliamentary vote. He has been delivering fiery speeches at gatherings across the country.

“Mr Imran Khan … in his speeches/statements is continuously … levelling baseless allegations and spreading hate speech through his provocative statements against state institutions,” the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) said in its statement on Saturday.

PEMRA said it was, with immediate effect, prohibiting news channels from broadcasting his speeches live, but said recorded speeches could be broadcast.