Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Wednesday berated former premier Imran Khan for media censorship during the PTI tenure and said that his government is fully committed to freedom of press and speech in the country.
In his statement, a day after the World Press Freedom Day, the prime minister said that Pakistan fell 12 points on World Press Freedom Index during the last year of Imran Khan's government and 18 points during his tenure.
“It not only earned him the shameful title of ‘press freedom predator’ but also placed our democracy in a bad light,” PM Shehbaz tweeted, slamming the PTI chairman for imposing curbs on media during his stint.
Pakistan fell 12 points on Press Freedom Index during last year of Imran Khan's govt & 18 points during his tenure. It not only earned him shameful title of "press freedom predator" but also placed our democracy in bad light. We are fully committed to freedom of press & speech!
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) May 4, 2022
The PM’s statement, quoting the annual report of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), said that his government is “fully committed to freedom of press and speech”.
In its report, the RSF painted a bleak picture of media freedom in Pakistan, ranking the country 157 out of 180 with a score of 37.99.
Pakistan was at 145 last year on the list with a score of 53.14, sliding 12 points in the last year of the PTI government.
