Patron-in-Chief of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said his party will not compromise on freedoms of speech and will stand shoulder to shoulder with media community whenever it is attacked.
“The Pakistan People’s Party and the journalist community have always fought together against martial laws and gagging of press since last four decades. Freedom of press is one of the key part of our struggle to strengthen democracy and supremacy of the constitution,” Bilawal stated this in his message on World Press Freedom Day being observed under UNESCO the world over today.
He said his party was proud that the former prime minister Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto threw away the blacks laws in 1988 opening new opportunities for media expansion to ensure freedom of expression.
The PPP patron-in-chief said scores of journalists had been killed since last two decades while performing their duties making Pakistan one of the most dangerous country for them. “It is unfortunate that Kalashnikov culture introduced by Zia’s dictatorial regime is taking its toll and almost every peaceful segment of our society is being targeted by same culture,” he added.
He said the PPP had always vehemently condemned use of violence in the society and had a record to launch massive masses movements for restoration of democracy without throwing a single stone since last four decades.