Bilawal censures govt over use of 'extreme' force against PPP workers

Authorities used water cannons and tear gas on party workers gathered to support Bilawal in Islamabad

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday censured the Prime Minister Imran Khan-led federal government for "resorting to using of extreme force to conceal its incompetence".

Quizzed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) earlier today, the PPP chairman lambasted the police personnel for using water cannons and tear gas to disperse party workers who had gathered to express support for Bilawal in connection with the fake accounts case.

Some protestors had also been reportedly detained.

Clarifying his stance on the matter, Bilawal maintained that "the government is averse to constructive criticism" and added that dissent is essential for progress. He also cautioned that the PPP is not going to be shunned by such tactics in this "so-called" democracy.

Holding the premier responsible for the weakening macro-economic situation, Bilawal said that the public had been deceived on the pretext of "change" and that millions remain jobless as financial woes have skyrocketed.

"Protestors were attacked and dissent being curbed are ploys used by the government to mask their own shortcomings," he said.