ISLAMABAD/LAHORE, May 02 Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has paid rich tribute to journalists, editors,
photographers, and media workers across Pakistan and around the world on
the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, reaffirming his party’s
unwavering commitment to freedom of the press, protection of
journalists, and the people’s fundamental right to truth and
information.
In a statement issued by the Media Cell Bilawal House, Chairman PPP said
that World Press Freedom Day serves as a poignant reminder that
journalism is not merely a profession—it is a public service, a shield
against tyranny, and a lifeline for any democratic society. “In every
unjust silence, in every muffled truth, freedom itself is wounded,” he
added.
Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari pointed out that the unanimously passed
Constitution of 1973, which guarantees the freedom of speech,
expression, and the press, was a historic gift from Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the country’s first elected Prime Minister. He also
recalled the enduring legacy of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, who
stood as a resolute defender of press freedom even under the darkest
days of dictatorship.
He added that President Asif Ali Zardari, despite being the target of
one of the most venomous media trials in Pakistan’s history, has always
championed the cause of media liberalization.
“The PPP’s legacy is clear—we have endured censorship, imprisonment, and
even martyrdom, but we have never bowed before those who sought to
silence us. A strong, independent press is not the enemy of the state;
it is the voice of the people,” he said.
Calling upon the federal and provincial governments, Chairman PPP urged
immediate and concrete steps to ensure the safety and protection of
journalists. This includes robust legal safeguards, prosecution of
crimes against media professionals, and an end to arbitrary censorship
and economic coercion.
He lauded the PPP-led Sindh Government for taking a pioneering step by
passing the Sindh Protection of Journalists and Other Media
Practitioners Act, 2021, and establishing the Commission for the
Protection of Journalists and Other Media Practitioners under this law.
Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari saluted the courage of media
professionals who risk their lives to uncover and report the truth. He
also stressed that in today’s digital age, the scope of press freedom
must expand to include protection against online harassment,
misinformation, and algorithmic bias.
“The modern press isn’t limited to print and television—it includes
bloggers, vloggers, and citizen journalists. We must ensure that the
principles of freedom and responsibility extend to all platforms.”
Concluding his message, Chairman PPP said: “A society without a free
press is a body without a soul. Let us honour those who speak when
others stay silent. Let us protect those who write so that we may read
the truth. On this World Press Freedom Day, I stand with every
journalist present, and future—in their relentless pursuit of truth,
justice, and accountability.”