Dear Sir :

Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in her fortnightly column published on your leader page on May 30, 1996 talks about the role of free press and its importance to democracy. She starts off with a poignant reminder of the Zia regime and how the General muzzled the press. She contrasts this with the relative freedom that the fourth estate enjoys today.

She makes the readers aware of the irresponsibility shown by the news media which can lead to chaos and panic. She admonishes indirectly the supremo of Tehrik-e-Insaf who displayed intolerance while talking to the press. She specifically mentions that "no democracy is possible without the free flow of information".

Alas, this understanding and love for the free press should have filtered down to her party leaders and followers. If only she would have read Ardeshir Cowasjee’s column published a couple of weeks back in this newspaper before writing her column. If only she would have read what the late Razia Bhatti wrote about her in her magazine. The latter strongly stated : "Ms Bhutto would do well to remember that her years out of power far outnumber her years in power. Tomorrow, or many tomorrows hence, she may feel the need for a free press again". If only she had taken action against those in the corridors of power who have tried to subjugate the free press, she would then have titled her column : FREE PRESS ! AND HOW ?