LAHORE: The chairman of Barabri Party Pakistan (BPP), singer Jawad Ahmad, has said that criticising the prime minister was the right of every citizen and no one could take this away from them.

He said it was basic freedom of speech. He was speaking at the Lahore Press Club on Friday regarding an incident that happened with him at a press conference in Faisalabad.

Mr Ahmad said that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) promoted a culture of violent politics and PM Imran Khan’s only interest was in targeting Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif. But, the premier could not tolerate any criticism of himself. He said that everyone in the arena of politics should be able to tolerate criticism and Mr Khan should show his followers how criticism should be heard out.

Ahmad was speaking at a web seminar in Faisalabad when PTI workers present did not let him finish and started hooliganism and shouting. Ahmad said besides the prime minister he was also criticising the past governments.

Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2019