LAHORE, June 4: The Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf (PTI), Lahore chapter, on Monday warned against curbs on the electronic media and journalists, pleading the restrictions would only add to the momentum of the democratic movement which was now “a few inches” from the cherished goal of democracy.

Speaking at a rally outside the Lahore Press Club, Lahore PTI President Muhammad Shabir Sial said the restriction on the media showed the rulers had been unnerved in the wake of the rising agitation.

He said even though the government had barred television channels from airing live Islamabad-to-Abbotabad tour of Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on May 26 but the massive turnout during the journey showed the popular movement would not cease even if the press was barred from coverage.

Mr Sial said the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was in trouble because PTI Chief Imran Khan had gone to London with a substantial evidence to prove in a court of law that the MQM was a terrorist organisation. The initiative by Mr Khan would, the PTI leader said, end the MQM’s role in the country’s politics. He said Mr Khan had played his legal card which had a deep political meaning.

They said the people stood behind lawyers in their democratic struggle and all the opposition political parties had also forged unity in their ranks to end the military rule in the country.

PPP: Punjab PPP president termed the new Pemra ordinance promulgated by the president on Monday a fresh attack on the freedom of press.