Extremists, anti-people forces trying to gag press freedom: Bilawal

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Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that impunity for crimes against journalists was an international issue as undemocratic regimes, extremist and anti-people forces were bent on wiping out press freedom from the globe.

In his message on the ‘International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists’ being observed on Friday, the PPP Chairman said that no single nation could eliminate this cruel injustice and the only solution was for the international community to come together and take serious, coordinated and practical steps.

He said, on one hand, previous government of the rightists promoted paid journalism, on the other hand the current government was shrinking the space for independent journalists. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed concern over the perception that professional bodies of journalists were declaring Pakistan as a dangerous country for media persons but rulers and corporate media were portraying everything was alright.

The PPP chairman pointed out that all the PPP governments had been burying the dark laws imposed by dictatorial regimes against press and media but right wing forces installed as rulers always gagged them. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said journalists and media persons were still facing insecurity and media institutions were fighting war for survival.

“Democracy and press are deeply interlinked. PPP considers struggle for freedom of press as key part for the movement of strengthening of democracy,” he asserted.

Published in Daily Times, November 2nd 2018.

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