In a series of tweets, Amnesty International LUMS Chapter told how they were ordered to ‘drop’ a guest they had invited to a talk they were hosting on tolerance in Pakistan with regards to marginalised minorities.
On 6th December 2022, Amnesty International LUMS Chapter intended to host a talk on tolerance in Pakistan with members of various marginalized minorities. Unfortunately, we were abruptly told to drop the Ahmedi representative we had called to speak last night.
— Amnesty LUMS (@AmnestyLUMS) December 6, 2022
The human rights organisation chapter clarified that it was not criticising the university itself but to highlight the necessity of explaining why a guest was missing.
The purpose of mentioning this is not to criticise LUMS but to explain to people who were looking forward to the guest coming why he would not be there today
— Amnesty LUMS (@AmnestyLUMS) December 6, 2022
Despite all the guests being approved, the order came after a recheck of all profiles.
The guests were approved days ago, but OSA 'randomly' chose to recheck our guest profiles, following which they told us our Ahmedi speaker could not come to the talk.
— Amnesty LUMS (@AmnestyLUMS) December 6, 2022
The thread did however attempt to hold LUMS accountable for its failure to protect free speech and discourse.
When we asked why we received vague responses about external interference. Still, it is shocking to see an institution such as LUMS fail to protect discourse, even telling us that it is fine because other minorities are still coming.
— Amnesty LUMS (@AmnestyLUMS) December 6, 2022
As a sign of protest against the order, an empty seat was left as a symbolic gesture of the guest who was asked to not be there post invitation.
While we are continuing with the talk, the irony of a particular speaker being dropped on a talk about Tolerance in Pakistan speaks volumes. To make our dissatisfaction known, we will leave an empty seat representing the dropped speaker.
Please join us at 6pm today. pic.twitter.com/31Rwgu8ijL
— Amnesty LUMS (@AmnestyLUMS) December 6, 2022
LOVE FOR ALL HATERED FOR NONE
Each person have a right of freedom of speech.
So let everyone talk and don’t discriminate people because of their beliefs and background.
At the end we all are HUMANS!
This incident says a lot about tolerance in Pakistan. The irony of holding a conference in name of Tolerance in Pakistan and not being tolerant enough to include an Ahmadi speaker.
Pakistan is Islamic Republic. In Islam the state must ensure equal rights, freedom and protection to all its people regardless of their faith and beliefs.