LAHORE: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) Chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman contacted Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto and discussed the impact of anti-people budget presented by the government, said a statement issued from Bilawal House on Monday.

Talking to JUI chief, Bilawal pointed out that the government has reduced the number of Coronavirus tests and trying to mislead the world by concealing data in this regard. He further said the federal government had forgotten the issue of locust attack on the agriculture sector. Maulana agreed to the concerns of Bilawal and vowed to work jointly in the larger interest of public.

Meanwhile, Bilawal also chaired a video-link meeting of the party to devise the media strategy. The meeting also prayed for the departed soul of Dr Aytullah Durrani, Murtaza Baloch, and Dr Ejaz Ahsan.

Bilawal condemned the firing incident against the protesting journalists, saying that the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has explained its policy towards media by letting their security staff open fire on the protesting journalists.

He said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government had put off air the anchorpersons with independent views. It had also forced media houses to expel journalists to stop the communication of alternative voices to the people.

He advised the media team of PPP to follow decency while adopting an aggressive tone against the government policies. He has also urged them to be aggressive against baseless allegations of corruption against the PPP. He has the allegation of corruption has never been proven against the PPP leadership and they have been acquitted honourably from the courts. However, the case of leadership and leaders of other political parties is different from the PPP, he added.

He said PTI's move to make Coronavirus a non-issue should also be confronted by the party leaders appearing on electronic media. He has further expressed the hope that the anchorperson would ensure fair play and bring the stance of all the stakeholders of politics.

Top party leaders including Nayyer Bukhari, Farhatullah Babar, Aitezaz Ahsan, Sherry Rehman, Naveed Qamar, Salim Mandviwala, Shazia Murree and provincial party heads attended the video-link meeting.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020