KP government condemned for halting Malala’s book launch

PESHAWAR-

The postponement of book launching ceremony of “I am Malala”, an autobiography of teenage rights activist Malala Yousafzai, at University of Peshawar sparked a country- wide heated debate while the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government came under severe criticism by Pakistan People’s Party and social media.
Bacha Khan Education Foundation (BKEF), Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO) and Area Study Center (ASC) had planned the launching ceremony of “I am Malala” at University of Peshawar on Tuesday morning.
However, late on Monday, an SMS message by the organizers circulated on mobile networks.
“The provincial government through direct intervention prohibited the launch of I AM MALALA organized by Bacha khan Education Foundation, SPO and Area Study Center, violating all norms of decency and academic freedom,” it read.
When contacted by Pakistan Today, Prof. Khadim Hussain, chief executive of BKEF and Dr. Sarfaraz Khan Director of ASC said that the government had refused to let them hold the ceremony on ‘security grounds.’
Khan added that he had also received threats on telephone calls to postpone the ceremony.
“Since Monday afternoon I was receiving telephonic calls and threats, forcing for postponing of the ceremony. Even Minister Information and Minister Local Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have told me on phone to postpone the ceremony.”
Khan said that he had also been approached by Vice Chancellor as well as the Registrar of Peshawar University who sent him a letter directing him to postpone the ceremony.
Superintendent Police and SHP of Campus police have visited his office and residence to compel him in suspending the book launching service, he added.
In such conditions, there was no option but to push back the launch, said Khan.
KP Information Minister Shah Farman and Local Bodies Minister Inayat Ullah confirmed their role in postponement of the launching ceremony.
“We are not against the launching ceremony of Malala’s book but we have objections over the venue” Farman remarked when contacted by Pakistan Today.
The organizers are allowed to arrange launching ceremony of the book anywhere in the city but not in jurisdiction of university campus, he added.
Inayat Ullah expressed his contentment over the suspension of the book launch service as he said he believed such an event could pave ways for terrorist attack or act inside University campus.
“It is a very sensitive matter,” he said.
Secretary Home and Tribal affairs Syed Akhtar Ali Shah told media that the university and Area Study Centre are autonomous bodies and hold the right to arrange academic events.
He rejected that reports the book by Yousafzai had been banned in the province.
The episode has led to a fiery criticism over the KP government by others while Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan expressed his regret over the event. PTI leads the coalition government in KP.
“I’m at a loss 2 understand why Malala’s book launch stopped in Peshawar. PTI believes in freedom of speech/debate, not censorship of ideas,” Khan commented on Twitter.
President and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari and Aseefa Bhutto Zardari expressed their displeasure with the KP government.
“Pathetic of PTI gov to ban #Malala’s book. This is censorship! Where is our freedom of speech and expression?”, Aseefa tweeted online.

-Shamim Shahid