Halt to internet services during Asma Jehangir moot invites ire

 

The authorities have disrupted the internet service during a special event held to pay tribute to human rights champion Asma Jehangir in Lahore, the 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Sunday.

According to sources, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority followed the directives from the federal authorities and the federal ministers to disrupt the internet service during the virtual address of the three-time premier from London.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyH6mKPcheo

The act invited ire among the organizers of the late Asma Jehangir conference aimed at continuing with the mission of legendary lawyer.

Earlier, Adviser to Prime Minister on Accountability Shahzad Akbar and Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry took swipe at event planners for letting the ex-premier address the moot.

https://twitter.com/ShazadAkbar/status/1462352105394425856

“Having an absconder and convict speak at a conference where senior judges and members of the bar have spoken creates serious doubts on the impartiality of organisers but also makes it clear that judges should remain clear of such politicised gatherings,” the accountability aide tweeted.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said he had been invited to the event, but he had been informed that "the conference will be closed with the speech of an absconding convict; this is obviously tantamount to ridiculing the country and the Constitution [which is why] I declined to participate in the conference."

Fawad said he refused to show up at the event after he got to know that the fugitive’s Sharif’s address will be concluding remarks, what he called, a joke with the state and the constitution. Reportedly, the organisers of the Asma Jahangir conference condemned the alleged muzzling of the three-time premier.