[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]During a civil rights conference titled ‘People’s Mandate: Safeguarding Civil Rights in South Asia’ in Lahore, a pro-Palestine protester disrupted the speech of Germany’s Ambassador to Pakistan Alfred Grannas on Saturday.
The event, organized by the Asma Jahangir Legal Aid Cell (AGHS) in collaboration with the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), witnessed the interruption as Grannas began his address.
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Expressing concerns about Germany’s stance on the Palestinian issue, the protester confronted Grannas, stating, “Excuse me, Mr. Ambassador. I am shocked by the audacity that you are here to talk about civil rights while your country is brutally abusing the people speaking for the rights of the Palestinians.”
The interruption was met with applause from the audience, who chanted slogans such as “Free, Free Palestine” and “From the River to the Sea.”
Grannas responded promptly, urging the protester to voice opinions outside if they intended to disrupt. The livestream of the event briefly muted Grannas’ comments and disabled the feed for a few minutes.
Following the disruption, the Progressive Students Collective (PSC) criticized the conference organizers for allegedly silencing student voices while providing a platform for what they perceived as proponents of Palestinian genocide.
As Grannas resumed his speech, he underscored the importance of protecting human dignity, aligning Germany’s values with Pakistan’s constitutional principles. He commended Pakistan’s judiciary for interpreting and safeguarding human rights, citing legal reforms that benefited society.
Grannas recognized the significance of conferences like these in shaping judicial decisions and fostering intellectual discourse, expressing hope for fruitful discussions.
The conference, initiated in 2018 after the passing of human rights advocate Asma Jahangir, seeks to honor her legacy by addressing fundamental rights, judicial independence, marginalized community empowerment, freedom of expression, and regional solidarity through panel discussions.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
