LAHORE: Despite the high attendance that the LLF received this year, there were reports of the event being boycotted by a number of people over the controversy caused in recent times by Newsweek Pakistan Editor and former LLF Board of Governors member Fasih Ahmed.
Fasih had come under fire for his insensitive tweets about Kasur’s rape-murder victim Zainab. Back then, the Boycott LLF hashtag had started trending on Twitter after which Fasih recused himself from his role in the festival.
However, there seemed to be a resurgence of the boycott idea as many felt it was not enough that Fasih had only recused himself and suggested that further action be taken against him.
On the other hand, the first day of the LLF concluded smoothly under stringent security measures at Alhamra.
Having bounced around different hotels for the past couple of editions due to security risks, this year’s LLF was given to extraordinary security measures as the streets of the Mall bordering Alhamra were shut for public use, and a large contingent of police was deployed on spot. The area SP of police also visited the event premises for inspection.
