Lahore: After a campaign led by a group of Pakistani students based at various universities in the United Kingdom, the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) has cancelled a talk scheduled to be held at its campus, featuring former Pakistani president General Pervaiz Musharaf.
The campaign was led by activists associated with Pakistan Solidarity Campaign and Awami Workers Party UK chapter among other progressive groups.
Jaffer Miza, a SOAS student who was active in the campaign, told Daily Times that like his peers he was opposed to the talk because Musharaf was responsible for multiple crimes including Akbar Bughti’s killing. “He is also the prime accused in Benazir Bhutto’s assassination and has been declared an absconder by the court. We can’t provide prestigious platforms like that of SOAS to anti-humane elements like Musharaf,” he said.
He said the principle of freedom of expression was not applicable to the matter. “People like Musharaf should have only one place to express themselves and that is the court of law,” he said.
Mirza said the SOAS Student Union had also supported the campaign.
“SOAS Pakistan Society should apologise for endorsing this event on its social media page,” he said.
When contacted for their response, the SOAS Pakistan society held that it had no involvement in planning of the event.
Published in Daily Times, August 22nd 2017.
