Alongside Twitter, hundreds of thousands of users also posted messages and voice their reservation on top social media forum – Facebook – against suspension of ARY News license. People slammed Pemra and the incumbent government for gagging voice of the biggest news channel of Pakistan.
The International Human Rights Organisation ‘Amnesty International’ also condemned the Pemra’s decision.
A message posted on the Amnesty website reads, “A politically motivated ban imposed on a Pakistani TV channel critical of the government constitutes a violation of the right to freedom of expression”.
Below are few of the tweets posted by politicians in support of ARY News.
I strongly condemn the arbitrary and capricious ban by PEMRA on ARY News and ARY News Anchor Mubashir Lucman…. https://t.co/2jEFrneJ3N
— Pervez Musharraf (@P_Musharraf) October 20, 2014
Shameful attempt 2 silence Ary by a corrupt govt will not hide the truth abt corruption & injustice. Pemra’s action arbitrary & unacceptable
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 20, 2014
Freedom of expression is our democratic right. Cowardly act of despotic Govt. to ban ARY. #WeSupportARY
— Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri (@TahirulQadri) October 20, 2014
N-PEMRA violated due process in ARY case. Hearing is fundamental right under Article10A. Its violation is crime under Article6 #WeSupportARY
— Babar Awan (@DrBabarAwan) October 20, 2014
Highly condemnable: #UnblockARY pic.twitter.com/6lXXOR8mC4
— Syed Ali Raza Abidi (@abidifactor) October 20, 2014