Chairman of Tehreek Jawawan Pakistan, Mohammad Abdullah Gul, criticised the German ambassador for his disrespectful behaviour towards a Pakistani citizen on Pakistani soil, during the Asma Jahangir conference.
In a statement, Gul condemned the ambassador’s use of undiplomatic language, which violated diplomatic norms. He emphasised that advocating for oppressed nations at a forum dedicated to freedom of expression is itself an exercise of free speech. Gul pointed out the audacity of German ambassadors in employing offensive language against Pakistani citizens on their own soil while ostensibly championing freedom of opinion. He said that perhaps the German government does not teach diplomatic etiquette before deploying its personnel, demanding the foreign office to summon the German ambassador and protest on behalf of the entire Pakistani nation.
At the fifth Asma Jahangir human rights conference in Lahore, pro-Palestinian youth vociferously expressed their solidarity with the people of Gaza, disrupting the speech of German Ambassador Alfred Grannas on Saturday. In response to the youth’s fervent expressions, the German ambassador lost control and scolded them, saying, “Shouting is not dialogue… if you wish to shout, do so outside… shame on you.”
Subsequently, conference organisers expelled the vocal youth advocating for Palestine. The event’s livestream briefly muted Grannas’ remarks and was temporarily disabled.
