By Asim Shahzad
LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Central Punjab General Secretary Syed Hassan Murtaza and Parliamentary leader in Punjab Assembly Syed Ali Haider Gillani has said the PPP stands with the media on the controversial Defamation Bill 2024 passed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz PML-N government.
In a statement issued here, Syed Ali Haider Gillani categorically said PPP members were not present in the House at time of the passage of the bill adding that the PPP members had not voted in favour of the controversial bill.
He also said PML-N) government neither consulted with the PPP nor they take any advice from the party regarding the bill.
Meanwhile, Murtaza said despite media trials against President Asif Ali Zardari and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, freedom of expression was never restricted.
Murtaza said PPP was against character assassination of anybody in the media, but presenting the bill without taking stakeholders into confidence was wrong.
“The government of Punjab should have negotiated with journalist organisations before presenting the bill,” he said.
