LAHORE: The Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) management on Tuesday apologised for cancelling a scheduled talk by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Asad Umar.

The statement posted on the university website, titled ‘Apology to Mr. Asad Umar from LUMS’, has stated that the politician’s talk was cancelled as it “breached agreed policy”.

“Posters not approved by the Office of Student Affairs were put up all over campus in which his event appeared to have been converted primarily into a political rather than educational event in breach of the agreed policy. It was therefore decided to cancel Mr. Asad Umar’s speech,” the statement says.

"LUMS regrets the inconvenience caused to Mr. Asad Umar by the cancellation of the event. LUMS also recognises that it would have been preferable to contact Mr. Umar prior to the cancellation so as to clarify the nature of his speech. Mr. Asad Umar is welcome to come and speak on the LUMS campus at any time, albeit in accordance with our policies regarding public events."

The talk had been sponsored by the university’s Law and Politics Society, and the management said had been earlier approved as "permission was granted in accordance with LUMS long-standing policy that events on campus should be educational and follow a disciplined and rule governed approach in the pursuit of knowledge".

The PTI lawmaker had earlier tweeted about the cancellation of his talk:

Umar said that those who wanted to listen to his talk should assemble at Lalik Chowk.