Staff Reporter
Lahore
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Monday highlighted sacrifices of media workers, saying that the PPP will not accept a Naya Pakistan devoid of freedom of expression.
“Nowadays, attacks are being made against not only democracy but freedom of the press as well,” he said. “We will not accept a Naya Pakistan where there is no freedom of expression.”
He criticised the government for blocking media houses’ dues. The PPP chairman said that the government was using censorship as a tool to stifle criticism on media workers, producers, media houses, cameramen and those who posted on Twitter and other social media websites.
“Every person should have the freedom to speak or write whatever he wants,” he said, adding that the PPP will try to ensure that the press clubs, civil society and political forces join hands to amplify their voice.
Referring to media workers as “labourers of the pen”, Bilawal said that they had not accepted the dictatorship of former army chief Ayub Khan. He said that the press club and journalists stood up to Gen Zia-ul-Haq’s injustices.
Bilawal said that the ruling PTI government had launched a sustained attack on the media after assuming power. The PPP chairman, while addressing a press conference in Lahore, said he would give voice to suppressed journalists and look out for their interests.
Bilawal said that a rise in censorship not only affects an average political worker, but also the journalist fraternity.
