The Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway, shut down an event midway, where former President General (r) Pervez Musharraf was speaking after tensions between his supporters and opponents escalated beyond control.
General (r) Musharraf had been addressing a crowd of around 150 people at the Nobel Peace Center the other day. The lecture, which was about security policy and the current situation in Pakistan and the South Asian region had been arranged by Norwegian organisation, ‘Dialogue for Peace.’
However, according to the Nobel Peace Center, the question and answer session that follows such lectures melted down with supporters and opponents almost coming to blows. The tension between the two groups reached the point where the Nobel Peace Center had to intervene and put an end to the event.
In a statement delivered the next day, the Nobel Peace Center explained that “As the floor was opened for questions, the discussion between Musharraf’s followers and opponents escalated. When some participants attempted to silence and remove critical voices, we decided to stop the event.”
According to certain people present at the lecture and the center’s statement itself, Musharraf’s supporters had attempted to silence voices critical of the self-exiled former military ruler. It would seem as if Musharraf’s infamous censorship at home does not work in places such as Norway.
Furthermore, according to its own representatives, the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo is one of Norway’s and the World’s most visited museums with approximately 250 000 visitors per year. It also presents the Nobel Peace Prize laureates and their work, and woks as an arena for debate and reflection around topics such as war, peace and conflict resolution.
The Center further added that it also aims to be a center of progressive dialogue and an “arena of topical conversation.” Because of this the center explained that they found it necessary to end Pervez Musharraf’s lecture when they did as they did not want to even risk it turning into something ugly.
“At the Nobel Peace Center we aim to have an open house. We want different, also critical, voices to be heard,” said the center’s official statement.
“We will not accept open debate to be hindered, but we will never use force to achieve it. Consequently, we found it necessary to cancel the Q&A and stop this event. We deeply regret how this turned out” they further stated.
The former President has been in Norway for some time now in a visit that has been highly publicised by both his social media team and members of his political party, the All Pakistan Muslim League.
During the visit, Musharraf has met with former Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne, and thanked him for his attempts and efforts to resolve the Kashmir issue. He also exchanged greetings with Governor Oslo, Valgerd Svarstad, and Drammers Mayor Tore Opdal. The former military ruler and head of state was even received by the Director of the Nobel Peace Center, Mrs Liv Torres.
However, the Nobel Peace Center has since seen fit to distance themselves from the retired General, stressing that it was not them that had invited Musharraf to give a lecture and that it had been a secondary external partner which often arranges events at the center.
“On Thursday, August 17th, Pakistan’s former president, Pervez Musharraf gave a lecture at the Nobel Peace Center. Some of these events are programmed by the Nobel Peace Center, others by external partners. This time the Norwegian organization, Dialogue for Peace was responsible for the content and for hosting the event. read the official statement from the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo.
It went on to stress that “Former President Musharraf was not invited to Norway by the Nobel Peace Center.”
Who the hell are you talk about him, if you have guts come and correct your country… what you are up to…
Only shout against others…
Running Governments is not an easy job…
He has taken decisions, aiming that those will be most were correct and few were wrong…
Every should be given chance to put there role in the welfare of their country…
Who the hell are you talk about him, if you have guts come and correct your country… we will see what you are up to…
You people only shout against others…
Running Governments is not an easy job…
He has taken decisions, aiming that those will be good, most were correct and few were wrong…
Everybody should be given chance to put there role in the welfare of their country…
He has done so…
Perform your role practically not by saying bad against others directly or indirectly…
I agree! Musharraf has spent his life in the line of fire be it as a soldier or as a civilian. He did not seek power but took it because of cowardly attempt to murder him in the air by then the PM of Pakistan. A military mind is never a political one and yes Musharraf did commit mistakes at the end of his carrier but which poltical PM has not done so? Yes demonstration are allowed in a democratic society but they should not be allowed to deny others to hear and voice their opinions too. I still maintain the event could be better stage managed. When Mr Ayub refers to the former President as a shame for the armed forces, it was the armed forces who saved him and stood by him.It is too soon to judge Musharraf! I remember when he last visited Oslo as A Head of state the whole city came to a stand still and there were hardly any demonstrations.He was carrying the same “baggage then.”
Deserter in war & absconded in peace
For a” deserter” he did very well!
Mr Ali Idris comments on Mr .Ayub are uncalled for. He does not appear to be uneducated but may be factually correct in calling Musharraf a” deserter” The incident he refers to happened in 1965 war against Pakistan. He was posted at the Sialkot front where the biggest tank war after the second world war took place. Musharraf showed exemplary courage when an artillery shell got jamed . He jumped on the canon and manually removed it. he was mentioned for his bravery in the dispatches. In those days the officers were allowed RR for a few days but since Musharraf hailed from Karachi he needed a couple of days extra which he was not granted.He took them anyway( Post traumatic stress syndrome?) he was reprimanded but never considered as a” deserter”. I assure you i know the facts because i was there! facts tend to fade with time but myths linger on.
President General Musharraf is a true patriotic Pakistani. He is not corrupt like most of the Pakistani politicians specially Zardari and Nawaz.
He has earned respect and deserves respect. He has made few mistakes while running the country but over all his performance was lot better than two clowns who have ruined the country.
LONG LIVE MUSHARRAF!
WE ALL LOVE YOU !YOU ARE OUR HERO.
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