PPP will not accept 'Naya Pakistan' without freedom of expression: Bilawal

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that the PPP will not accept a Naya Pakistan devoid of freedom of expression.

He was addressing a Meet the Press program at the Lahore Press Club on Monday. He 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. "This isn't only for journalists; it is also for cameramen, producers, media house owners," he said and added that this suppression is also against bloggers, and those youngsters who post on Twitter.

The PPP chairman said that the 'politics of vengeance' seems to be touching a peak in Pakistan. He criticized 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 "laborers 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.