Life & Style

Here's how Twitter reacted to PEMRA's ban on Hamza Ali Abbasi

Your thoughts?

Life&Style June 18, 2016

As the ineffable media policing continues. PHOTO: FASHIONCENTRAL

Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) surprised the Pakistani audience yesterday by banning actor Hamza Ali Abbasi's Ramazan transmission. The ban was imposed over violation of the media regulator’s code of conduct as Pemra found Hamza guilty of "promoting controversial and sectarian views.”

Following threats, PEMRA puts a lid on Hamza Ali Abbasi's Ramazan transmission

It all started when Hamza spoke against the oppression of Ahmedis on his show Ishq-e-Ramazan. As expected, his comments irked hardline religious personalities; one of whom -- Maulana Kokab Noorani -- harshly criticised Hamza on another Ramazan transmission aired on TV One.

This was followed by complaints against both the TV channels which finally led to a ban on not just TV One's Ramazan transmission but also on Hamza from hosting his Ramazan show.

Naturally, Twitter was abuzz, with most unhappy about Pemra's decision to punish Hamza for demanding equal rights for the minorities.

Some thought Pemra was unfair

By banning both Hamza Ali Abbasi & Shabbir Abu Talib PEMRA may think its being fair. One questioned why we kill & the other incited to kill
— M. Jibran Nasir 🇵🇸 (@MJibranNasir) June 17, 2016

Others were not surprised

https://twitter.com/ijattala/status/743863521864146946

Many found it hard to believe

A genuine question on preserving the sanctity of human life raised by #HamzaAliAbbasi has triggered incitement of his death by mullahs.
— Mana Q (@ZEEQUEUE) June 18, 2016

Dear PEMRA, you meant Aamir Liaqat when you declared a ban on Hamza Ali Abbasi from Ramadan Transmission right?! #PleaseFixTheTypo
— Saadi (@saadimakhdoom) June 17, 2016

Pemra style bans - Wag finger at victim and remind them: All your fault! You have brought great discomfort to your attackers and us. Banned!
— Nadeem Farooq Paracha (@NadeemfParacha) June 17, 2016

Rethinking our rights

PEMRA bans Hamza Abbasi from hosting Ramazan transmission, yet allow air time to lunatics and jokers through the holy month.
— Khabeesi (@nom_malik) June 17, 2016

There were some who tried to make sense of it

Might not agree with PEMRA on many things but one has to understand that they might have just saved Hamza Abbasi's life by banning him.
— Maham Ali (@Mahamali05) June 17, 2016

In the end, most were disappointed

So just to be clear, crime of Hamza Ali Abbasi was to ask Mullahs in his show: "Can a gov decide on one's faith against ones wishes?" #PEMRA
— Bilal Mahmood (@bilalmahmooduk) June 17, 2016

https://twitter.com/anthonypermal/status/743807950242910209
https://twitter.com/ArmedWithWords/status/743864696265183236

Instead of charging Mullah under anti terror law for instigating murder, #PEMRA sharif banned #HamzaAliAbbasi .
Anna insaaf
— Salman Sikandar (@SALSIKandar) June 17, 2016

https://twitter.com/aurAdil/status/743823895623569409

Why @pemrapakistan has to ban this and not the most ghatiya and kharafati show by #AamirLiaquat. Shame on u Pemra https://t.co/dqeh0enOpe
— Zainwain (@zainwain) June 18, 2016

Ban HateSpeech #PEMRA nt FreeSpeech Yor a regulator, use yr discretion @omar_quraishi @ReemaAbbasi @sarataseer @reportpemra @pemrapakistan
— Shaan Taseer (@ShaanTaseer) June 17, 2016

https://twitter.com/Mariiam_Rizvi/status/743867070316683264
https://twitter.com/therealsnorky/status/743825876740104192

What are your thoughts?

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.

COMMENTS (25)

Reality | 8 years ago | Reply The society at large in our country are like living in a jungle. The kind of TV shows which is being telecast, and the kind of people caliber we saw in different talk shows. Nothing is improving, except the frustration all around, even though we are living in 21st century. Every institution is like a territory, and no one allows other to enter, no matter if the later one in right or wrong. This phenomena has started from few institutions in our country, and now it is every where in the society. In my opinion, based on my experience of 3 decades, bring new breed into all institution of our country with strict selection criteria. Then after 3 decades, we can see improvement in almost every system of the country. If that is not followed, then we all should be ready for....

Reality | 8 years ago | Reply What are we talking about, is this issue such an important one that the country is facing at large? What happen to KAA & MKN, have they started this subject with mutual consent? Have they and other who are behind them, foresee any such thing which forced them to come up with the two issues? I don't see any legitimate right for existence of PEMRA or Film Sensor Board in our country. They both act like our countries policing system. When an incident tool place in any part of our country, our police reach the place very late, and then their top brass as there people to seal the effected area for search about those miscreants of the society who were suppose to waiting there to be arrested. Where is our countries government and its governance. One can call good governance or bad governance, but I would call it no governance.

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Noor rahim | 8 years ago | Reply mullahs will never stop us asking questions Ahmeds are also minorities in Pakistan, there must not be human voilance in our homeland they are part of our country they must live like other peaple lives. Hamza Ali Abbasi we are with you PEMRA reconsider on your decision plz

m a Qamar | 8 years ago | Reply Pemra is not neutral it's working under the mulla's of Pakistan. So how it work with justice. So request for pray for our country of Pakistan please.

sameen | 8 years ago | Reply If pemra has banned HAA show then I think so amir luaqut show should also has to be banned. Bcz all know well what kind of stupid impact he is leaving on children's mind......dance or music in show during Ramada...too muchhis frankness with actresses....

Annono | 8 years ago | Reply Promoting Qadiyani religion is against the constitution. Enough said

freed | 8 years ago | Reply ban pemra, peoblem solved.

Abbas Shabbir | 8 years ago | Reply If we go back to history about how this hate against Ahmedi started and was injected in the comunity , people will realise it was completly political move to gain monetary and buiness gains and not at all Religion. We as pakistanis individuals lack emotional inteligence and so to easily gain monetary and political "achievements" is by getting hold of the hearts of muslims by investing in influencing fear of not talking or question about "our" islamic believes and practices.

arbab | 8 years ago | Reply Baster person

M.Kamran | 8 years ago | Reply I cannot understand the meaning behind such write-ups but still I'll add a few words as comments.First of all Hamza A. Abbasi's Ramzan show isn't a well researched program when it comes to questions or information on religious issues.It just seems to be a graceful attempt to have a different show in comparison to the other Ramzan shows being aired on tv which are game shows and have nothing to do with Ramzan.Secondly Hamza A. Abbasi is trying to make genuine effort to present a good Ramzan show instead of putting up hilarious antics for tv ratings.Its Pemra which is answerable as to why a first check on program content is not taken for all channels and guidelines given so that all channels are in conformity with each other? Pemra needs to visit their own concscience before banning respectable people on tv.

Sully | 8 years ago | Reply Surely Ramadan is THE perfect time to discuss and stand up for human rights??

Naruto | 8 years ago | Reply @Reader: Why don't you convert to Ahmadi.

Ahsan Manto | 8 years ago | Reply Hamza's point is well proven i.e one cannot bring up Ahmedi persecution on national TV. You are silenced by mullah threat directly or indirectly. This extremist behaviour will not stop the new Pakistani generation seeking answers to such questions and will InshAllah find answers through alternative means - social media, web sites, dialogues, etc.

Hania | 8 years ago | Reply literally everyone who is against him are just a bunch of ahmadi-hating target-seekers who have no life of their own but to ignorantly abuse and insult Ahmadiyyat without knowing the real teachings of their sect. Instead, they copy what they see on the news and live with that. I iwsh Pakistanis would stop being so stupid and actually read a little further down the news

Hameed | 8 years ago | Reply @ mahvish

One doesn’t start critiquing the state on national TV and expect not to be told to stop.

Nonsense! We don't live in north-Korea although it seems you would like us to.

asad | 8 years ago | Reply my only objection is why to bring this issue in ramadan, pre-aftari shows should be about the importance ramadan as the fundamental principles of Istam and the related issues. The other months are open for debate, seminars, speeches and other ways to help the people of Islam. If the popularity or the rating of the star or the channel is intended, then it would lead to disasters because that would not serve the purpose and might make this contemporary situation even worst

Arsalan Khan | 8 years ago | Reply Most of the Tweets for Hamza Abbasi have been from fake accounts, You have to check #PEMRA hash tag and see that they were smae tweet from hundreds of accounts.

ammad | 8 years ago | Reply nice tweets!!!

Afia Qazi | 8 years ago | Reply Notice how almost no celeb stood up for HAA. Gohar Rasheed, Adnan Siddiqui were the only 2 I know of who did.

Samina Rizvi | 8 years ago | Reply Its really unfair.If it is the matter of violation of media rules,then PEMRA should ban Hafizhamdulla's appearance on any TV channel for he,very loudly & clearly violated all those media policies. Pakistan is a Muslim state where minorities are given their due rights.When We celebrate HOLI,DIWALI with Hindus,then why not talk about some other religion.Our Faith shouldn't be so vulnerable that can be shattered by only a discussion over some different belief.I thoroughly condemn PEMRA's ban over Hamza Abbasi.

S khan | 8 years ago | Reply @S Akbar: Yes ur right plz also show those tweets which are against this guy

mahvish | 8 years ago | Reply One doesn't start critiquing the state on national TV and expect not to be told to stop. There are other forums more appropriate for this. He can petition, he can approach the courts. I feel all ramzan transmissions need to be brought in line with the essence of Islam, top if the list stupid pre iftar shows.

Foxtrot | 8 years ago | Reply "....with most unhappy about Pemra’s decision to punish Hamza for demanding equal rights for the minorities."--an upright newspaper is meant to provide facts to its readers, not to judge the people according to its wishful thinking lists..

Reader | 8 years ago | Reply A shameful act by PEMRA. Ahmedis are also Pakistanis they have their rights as well.

S Akbar | 8 years ago | Reply This is what we called hypocrisy. You only mention tweets which r in Hamza's favour. In that trend most tweets were against these so-called actors cum scholars

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