LAHORE: Social activist Aadii Roy who is well-known for his bold stance on injustices in society as well as government and military actions on Friday shared that he had been threatened for exercising free speech.
He made the revelation on social media website Twitter where he disclosed that someone had tried to intimidate him using the names of his family members.
There is nothing important than family for us,i have been threatened again taking my siblings names.May Allah protect us.
— صحرانورد (@Aadiiroy) October 17, 2018
Many notable personalities from the journalist community including Gul Bukhari condemned the action.
Threats to #AadiRoy & family are despicable
— Gul Bukhari (@GulBukhari) October 18, 2018
#AadiRoy کا کیا قصور ہے؟ حد ہوتی ہر بات کی۔
— Gul Bukhari (@GulBukhari) October 18, 2018
Stay strong man; the bullying seems to be because of your outspokenness. In solidarity!#AadiRoy #Pakistan https://t.co/BLaSvphsCO
— Mohammad Taqi (@mazdaki) October 18, 2018
Social Media Advisor Faisal Ranjha also came out in support of Aadii Roy, mentioning his own story of being in a similar situation.
Hi @Aadiiroy we all are with you, once I received a call and my sons name was used to threaten me .. Irony is the guy didn’t had clue about me and my credentials yet they threatened me .. They don’t care
hopefully PMLN take care of their Family! @MaryamNSharif— Faisal Ranjha (@ranjha001) October 19, 2018
Members of the public offered their support too.
If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear. #AadiRoy
— Humaira B. Minhas (@humairabadar) October 18, 2018
جب تک @Aadiiroy اور باقی سوشل میڈیا کے لوگوں کی جان و مال کی حفاظت سے متعلق کوئی آواز،قدم نہیں اُٹھایا جاتا یا ساتھ نہیں دیا جاتا تب تک میں کوئی سیاست یا اُس سے وابستہ کسی معاملہ پر ٹویٹ نہیں کروں گا۔آج ہم نے اس معاملے کو معمولی سمجھا کل ہماری باری آئے گی۔ہمیں ایک ہونا چاہیے اب
— Zeeshan Khan Niazi (@niyazee26) October 18, 2018
Earlier on Wednesday, senior journalist Matiullah Jan, who has been critical of the government and the establishment’s interference in the political affairs was asked to tender in his resignation within 24 hours. His social media account was accused of spreading ‘negative propaganda’ against state institutions.
Furthermore, Pakistani impressionist and comedian Syed Shafaat Ali, who is known for his impressions of Pakistani public figures, tweeted that an advertisement he had appeared in had been taken off air as part of media censorship by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA).