ISLAMABAD - Pakistan People’s Party chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari yesterday said the freedom of expression was being denied by the rulers.

Bilawal visited journalist Asad Toor’s residence to express solidarity with him. He was accompanied by Farhatullah Babar, Senator Raza Rabbani, Faisal Karim Kundi, Nasir Shah, Murtaza Wahab and Nazir Dhoki.

Later, speaking to journalists, Bilawal said that the attacker who assaulted Asad Toor were coward who think themselves as brave people.

“They have sent a message of weakness and cowardice and insecurity that they cannot tolerate even a Vlog.  These kinds of incidents do not happen in democratic countries. He said that he will take this issue in the human rights committee of the National Assembly,” he said.

He requested Asad Toor to present his case in the committee. “We will also request PFUJ to work with us for journalists’ security. We have to hold these attackers responsible,” he added.

Bilawal claimed that this government cannot provide security to the journalists in the federal capital where foreign embassies are situated and the prime minister brags wrongly about freedom of the press in Pakistan.

He said, “We all as a society will have to fight for the freedom of the press in the country. If we do not stand with journalists then we will become target of such attacks and no one will stand with us. We condemn these attacks and also the campaigns of character assassination and fake news against journalists. We salute the bravery of Asad Toor and we know that with such attacks Asad Toor cannot be silenced.”

Responding to questions, he said all the parties whether in the government or the opposition will have to be at one page and condemn the attacker and bring them to book.

“Such attacks have become a norm in the country and journalists cannot work in this environment of terror. Before this attack Absar Alam was attacked and before him Mutiullah Jan as well so we have to talk about these issues in the standing committee,” he reminded.