LSE, UK, Panel Discussion, Nov 9

State of Emergency in Pakistan: Panel Discussion with Aamir Ghauri, Hina Jilani and Ziauddin Sardar

Date: 9 November 2007
Day: Friday
Time: 6.30pm
Venue: U8, Tower 1
London School of Economics
WC2A 2AE

On the 3rd of November the President of Pakistan, Gen. Pervez Musharraf acting as army chief declared a state of emergency in Pakistan, suspended the constitution, replaced the chief judge of the Supreme Court and blacked out independent TV outlets.

In his proclamation of emergency, the general blamed growing violence by militants and a judiciary which he said was working at “cross purposes” with his government and the legislature for his most drastic action since he seized power in an October 12, 1999 coup. Police has so far arrested a number of political activists and lawyers across Pakistan. Among those detained are Aitzaz Ahsan, President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, and Asma Jehangir, chairman of the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

Dr Margot E Salomon
Dr. Margot Saloman is a Lecturer at the Centre for the Study of Human Rights and Department of Law. She serves as Legal Advisor to the United Nations High-Level Task Force on the Right to Development and has recently been appointed to the Committee on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of the International Law Association. Prior to joining the LSE in 2004 she represented the NGO Minority Rights Group International to the UN and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Aamir Ghauri
Aamir Ghauri is the Head of News & Current Affairs of GEO Television for UK & Europe. Aamir has also worked for PTV-Prime, BBC Asian Network, ARY Digital and The News International. His areas of interests are history and international politics of modern South Asia and Near & Middle East.

Hina Jilani
Hina Jilani is a well-known lawyer and human rights activist in Pakistan. She is the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Human Rights Defenders. Recently, she was also appointed to the UN International Fact- Finding Commission on Darfur. She is also one of the founders of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

Ziauddin Sardar
Ziauddin Sardar, writer, broadcaster and cultural critic, is a visiting Professor of Postcolonial Studies, Department of Arts Policy and Management at City University, London. He often writes for the The Observer and New Statesman. Mr. Sardar has also published over 40 books , including the international bestseller Why Do People Hate America? (2002).

Please note that event is free and open to general public and entry is on a first come first basis.