ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Standing Committee on Human Rights Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Tuesday said he has decided to convene a meeting of the committee to take up the issue of press freedom in the country with particular reference to the recent attacks on journalists in the federal capital.

He announced this while talking to reporters after visiting the residence of journalist Asad Ali Toor, who had been attacked by some unidentified persons last week.

Mr Bhutto-Zardari, who visited the journalist’s residence to express solidarity with him as the chairman of the PPP, said his party would never tolerate assault on press freedom.

“As the chairman of the National Assembly Committee on Human Rights, I am taking notice of the incidents of attacks on journalists and soon I will convene its meeting to discuss the state of media freedom in the country,” he said.

He regretted that the present government could not provide security to journalists in the capital where foreign embassies were situated.

The prime minister, he said, should feel ashamed while telling lies to the entire world that media was completely free in Pakistan.

Responding to a question, he said both the opposition and the government would have to be on one page on the issue of press freedom.

He said before Mr Toor, journalists Absar Alam and Matiullah Jan were also attacked but the culprits were never caught. He vowed to take up these cases to logical conclusion.

Earlier in the day, the PPP chairman met party senators and discussed the strategy for the upcoming federal budget. He was briefed about the Pakistan Media Development Authority Ordinance.

He said it was unfortunate that the government was running on ordinances while ignoring parliament.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2021