Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has expressed surprise and dismay on the issuance of arrest warrant for journalist Cyril Almeida on treason charges by the Lahore High Court.
“Treating Almeida like he is a criminal and trying him for treason no less is shocking! This adds on to the perception that media is under siege in Pakistan. Almeida was doing his job – nothing less, nothing more,” said Bilawal.
He said that the Pakistani media was already facing the worst kind of censorship. “Dictators who have abrogated the constitution and have actually committed treason are roaming free while journalists who are only doing their jobs are being tried for treason.”
The PPP chairman said that Almeida broke no law by interviewing former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. “Why should a journalist not interview someone? What law stops a journalist from interviewing a politician?”
He added, “The PPP stands by the freedom of expression and wants a free media in Pakistan. Democracy without a free media is a sham democracy.”
Published in Daily Times, September 26th 2018.
