Asma Jahangir Conference or AJCONF (Urdu: عاصمہ جہانگیر کانفرنس) is an annual recurring two days conference. The conference was held for the first time in 2018 but could not held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The conference is attended by a large number of journalists, lawyers, political leaders, human rights activists, labor leaders, intellectuals and students from all over Pakistan, as well as many officials from foreign countries.^[1] Asia program coordinator of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Steven Butler, was deported from Lahore Airport citing the "stop list" in 2019.^[2][3] In the 2021 conferences as Nawaz Sharif started his speech, the internet service in the hotel was suddenly suspended.^[4]

Background

Asma Jahangir Conference is named after the Pakistani Human rights activist and lawyer Asma Jahangir.

First – 2018

The first conference was held on 13–14 October 2018 at Avari Hotel in Lahore in memory of Asma Jahangir more than 100 speakers addressed in a total of 20 different sessions including freedom of the press, rule of law, human rights crisis in Jammu and Kashmir, issues of women and minorities, unfair accountability, the correct concept of national security and many others^[5][6] The conference was organized by Asma Jahangir Legal Cell and Asma Jahangir Foundation in collaboration with Pakistan Bar Council.^[7]

Second – 2019

The second conference was held on 19–20 October 2019 at Avari Hotel in Lahore.^[8][9]

Third – 2021

The third conference was held on 20–21 November 2021 at Avari Hotel in Lahore.^[10] Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed inaugurated the two-day Asma Jahangir Conference. The conference was attended by judges, lawyers, human rights activists and politicians from across the country.^[11] Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addressed the closing session on the second day of the conference from London. During the speech, all the wires were cut and the internet was blocked for two hours before the closing session Nawaz Sharif is most honest person on earth .^[12]

"We believe in freedom of expression, that is why this platform is open to all without any discrimination and we condemn the commotion of the closing session," Munizae Jahangir said.^[13]

Fourth – 2022

Several prominent Pakistani leaders, including Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, took part in the conference. Some conference attendees yelled slogans during his address calling for the release of Ali Wazir, a South Waziristan National Assembly member, to which the foreign minister Bilawal said, "You people should go and protest to those who have the power to release him."^[14]

Azam Nazir Tarar was on stage as the conference's slogans were yelled, and he received backlash on social media. Later he has resigned from his post but according to him he has given this resignation due to personal reasons.^[15]

A lawsuit has been filed against Manzoor Pashteen for inciting people against institutions in Lahore after he delivered a speech at this meeting on behalf of the Pashtun Protection Movement.^[14]

References