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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.
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Comments (98) Closed
Nov 11, 2014 01:20pm
Sir you have radicalised over the years and you are indeed a "threat to the campus peace"
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Nov 11, 2014 01:23pm
Word is that Asad Umar was replaced by Abid Sher Ali........really LUMS ? You mean Lucky Lahore Circus had no other clown ?
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Nov 11, 2014 01:24pm
PML(n) at work, how petty can you get.
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Nov 11, 2014 01:25pm
The same nincompoops in the government at it again
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Nov 11, 2014 01:27pm
Must be the pressure from PML(N) Government
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Nov 11, 2014 01:29pm
Why apology? BTW get a better quality hair piece.
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Nov 11, 2014 01:30pm
Excellent decision by LUMS Management.
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Nov 11, 2014 01:31pm
Not so Elite after all? Just shows LUMS is just like any other local institution. Better stick to following the "Truck ki Batti" get good grades and apply for a job in an MNC. Where is the entrepreneurial spirit? where is the open mindedness? Where is the change? All LUMS students better get their credits transferred to Punjab University.
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Nov 11, 2014 01:43pm
LUMS only yesterday knew Asad Umar is affiliated to PTI so they cancelled his lecture Can LUMS be more more transparent who had this lecture cancelled
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Nov 11, 2014 01:44pm
Why is the government still on panic mode? Hiding their crimes??
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Nov 11, 2014 01:53pm
So Law and Politics society lecture cannot have political elements in its discussion? Wow, LUMS sure has changed for the worse since I was around.
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Nov 11, 2014 02:03pm
Excellent, this person is making Pakistani students morally corrupt by lying in broad day light. Also he calls him self a management guru and during his leadership in Engro its share price came down to Rs. 92 because of huberistic tendencies.
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Nov 11, 2014 02:07pm
@Zain Ansari not an impressive statement about a talented man, now if you say or ask me how is he a talented man then kindly get your facts straight.and i am not taking his side because he is in PTI.
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Nov 11, 2014 02:08pm
The one thing that has destroyed pakistani educational institutions is the spread of politics within them. i did not expect mr asad umar help propagate such politics at LUMS. Well done to LUMS and their policy!
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Nov 11, 2014 02:10pm
Totally govt. pressure.
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Nov 11, 2014 02:12pm
He has been management leader -true, but has been in politics his presence has been for less than Friday-Friday-8-days.... Why is he only expert in law and politics now? I'm sure there are more people qualified and experienced who could speak well on the subject...
LUMS woke up! What is his qualification????
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Nov 11, 2014 02:12pm
Universities are supposed to be places where thoughts and ideas are freely expressed. If ideas aren't discussed and developed in universities, where else would they develop? While I don't agree with Asad Umer politically, he should have a right to speak at a university whether the speech is political or not.
Courtesy, however, would dictate that people like Javed Hashmi be accorded the same right should he be invited by university as well. Would people of a certain political party expressing outrage about this episode afford Mr. Hashmi the same opportunity? Considering their behavior at a medical college a few weeks ago, I think not.
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Nov 11, 2014 02:14pm
Yeah, the VC owing to his own political affiliations is ready to let the university's reputation go to the dogs. I went to a different LUMS where difference of opinion was valued. News of such censorship is disturbing to say the least.
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Nov 11, 2014 02:20pm
I attended an Imran Khan's talk on 3rd Nov 2007 at LUMS (the day Emergency was declared by Musharraf) and it was anything but an educational talk (readily available on youtube). So what policy is LUMS really talking about here? Has there been any change?
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Nov 11, 2014 02:28pm
For once, am ashamed to be a LUMS graduate
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Nov 11, 2014 02:33pm
So LUMS wants to have future politicians shaped as ghair siaasi
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Nov 11, 2014 02:35pm
Educational Institution should be cleared from politics. Politics should not prevail openly in educational institution. But Asad Umer is such a visionary person, that he would be knowing all these things before hand. He can never be threat to campus.
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Nov 11, 2014 02:36pm
At that time your were making 6Million a month and now you make probably an average salary to your level, LUMS Business School is all about finances my friend.
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Nov 11, 2014 02:41pm
PTI-phobia, another Gulluism by PML (N).
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Nov 11, 2014 02:46pm
Why is it difficult for you to obey laws? IF you were a board member then you should be more than willing to follow the norms
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Nov 11, 2014 02:47pm
Mr ASAD UMAR, A man is judged by the company he keeps.
This probably is a wake up call for you to review your decisions.
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Nov 11, 2014 02:48pm
Invited by Law and Politics society but not allowed to speak anything related to politics.
Kudos to management of LUMS
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Nov 11, 2014 02:50pm
@Ali A. Yes, you are right there are other more qualified people around us. Abid Sher Ali and Khawaja Asif to name the few.
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Nov 11, 2014 03:05pm
@Ali A. PhD in economics. :)
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Nov 11, 2014 03:06pm
If Asad Umar's presence gives a political colour to the event, then the Laptop distribution ceremony should also not invite Badshah salaamat's daughter Maryam Nawaz. The laptops should be handed out to students by VC of the university.
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Nov 11, 2014 03:16pm
@Parvez typical pti response :)
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Nov 11, 2014 03:37pm
Government of the intolerants, for the intolerants, and by the intolerants.
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Nov 11, 2014 03:58pm
Surprise Surprise!! Current VC LUMS has also applied for VC's position in UET Lahore, and guess who has to approve!
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Nov 11, 2014 04:03pm
I voted for PTI in the last election but I fully support the decision by LUMS to maintain the apolitical environment on the campus which is one of its many cherished qualities.
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Nov 11, 2014 04:21pm
@Ahmed wow..do you know what was the share price of engro when Asad Umar took over? It was Rs 7-8..hahahaha
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Nov 11, 2014 04:32pm
@Parvez He hasn't been replaced with anyone
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Nov 11, 2014 04:37pm
Cancellation of talk organized by Law and Political Society, makes doubts about LUMS’s claim to promote liberal arts, freedom of speech, and free exchange of ideas. It is NOT an odd if a leader of a political party deliver a speech at an academic institute. LUMS was aware of Asad's political leaning. By the way who else should speak at LUMS’s Dept of Law and Political Science, President of Pakistan Transportation Association?
Better LUMS should have invited Abid Sher Ali, or Hamza Shahbaz. The speech would have gone smoothly, and the audience would gained ocean of knowledge.
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Nov 11, 2014 05:16pm
I do not know if VC should be blamed
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Nov 11, 2014 05:51pm
What's next, Lums giving an honorary PhD to Abid Sher Ali?
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Nov 11, 2014 06:02pm
This is a very mature step of LUMS management to avoid politicization of the great institution and avoid letting it hijacked by a political gang-that has already hijacked the media and D-chowk. The negative venom spewed by this gang had averted the visit of Chinese President and Trade delegation from Qatar in August/September 2014.
Asad Umer is not an ideal corporate executive. He was fired from Engro Corp because of price manipulation of fertilizer prices in 2010 that had led to heavy penalty from the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP). He raised most-expensive debt "Engro Rupiyah Certificate" at exorbitant rates, to show huge liquidity so as to grab bonuses for 2011. It was pseudo-economist (without any degree in Economics) who predicted that the value of 1 US$ (USD) will be equal to PKR 150 (Pak Ruppee) by end 2014. His rants against the economy of Pakistan are more like those of Sheikh Rasheed rather than any former corporate executive!
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Nov 11, 2014 06:12pm
I am glad they have not given PTI this forum to speak as PTI is very controversial and has used D choke to insult so many people and institutions. Often it is un called and insulting I do no think a university should support such figure of speeches to young people.
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Nov 11, 2014 06:17pm
@Zain Ansari
He has transcended from an observer into someone who has decided to take action against what he thinks is wrong. If that is radicalization: then so was Jinnah, Iqbal, Bhaghat Singh, Nelson Mandela and many more.
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Nov 11, 2014 06:18pm
I have attended political debates of hina rabbani khar when i was a student in lums .. wasn't she a politician !!! Regrettable decision by Lums administration
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Nov 11, 2014 06:25pm
Junior Shabaz was in Lums a while ago. Why him and why not Asad. Shame on LUMS.
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Nov 11, 2014 06:26pm
Asad Umar's talk cancellation is very sad for a school of international repute. Politicians can deliver educational material just as good or even better than Political Science Professors. LUMS should review their policies to determine what is the real life education. Have these students at LUMS not watched TV and listened to the eye opener addresses every night for last 2months or more. It is unfair and rather pathetic to cancel such events depriving students of such opportunities.
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Nov 11, 2014 06:26pm
Well come to the world of nawaz bad shah
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Nov 11, 2014 06:27pm
LUMS should have invited Khawaja Saad Rafiq and Abid sher ali. only then the criteria of an educational oriented lecture would have been fulfilled.
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Nov 11, 2014 06:31pm
Let's everyone concentrate on thier studies and achieve career goals; improve communication skills and leadership qualities, be a career oriented and have a good communication skills, achieve some pruductive goals in your life. Spend time research and development., be organized and systematic. Improve your leadership qualities. Do not waist your time.
Thank you!!!
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Nov 11, 2014 06:46pm
Any thing is pssible undr present regime. any opposition is intolerable. during one of his his previous terms goons of PML(N) attacked supreme court , chased chief justice out of the building. - reason, CJ gave judicial opinion against Nawaz Sharif.
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Nov 11, 2014 06:55pm
LUMS is in Pakistan. Isn't it? so please don't expect the extraordinary. Politicians from all over the world are invited in world renowned universities where they deliver their general message for the developement of world society, their own manifesto and the vision. If there were student who supported PTI and put some posters, it wasn't unusual either.
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Nov 11, 2014 07:06pm
I am not at all enamoured of Mr. Khan or the people around him, but what area exactly does LUMS expect its Law and POLITICS Society to cover?
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Nov 11, 2014 07:11pm
Good call by LUMS
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Nov 11, 2014 07:28pm
You have no choice Mr. Asad Umar ! Face the music!. You are the founder of dirty politics
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Nov 11, 2014 07:31pm
@Ahmed Goes to show how much you know about corporate finance. Free markets, political stability, inflation are few big factors out of many that contributes to a company's performance. Any CEO of any company cannot control this.
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Nov 11, 2014 08:06pm
@Parvez . I think all including the faculty will benefit from this replacement. Abid Sher Ali is an asset to be cherished. I suggest he should be foreign minister as he is very sophisticated and articulate.
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Nov 11, 2014 08:07pm
@Altaf Hussain Rizvi please do not try to mislead the people like what sharifs have been doing for decades. Umer was never fired from Engro..he had resigned on his own.
His tenure at Engro has certainly been a remarkably successful one. When Umar took over as President and CEO of the company in January 2004, Engro was largely just a fertiliser manufacturer with a small petrochemical subsidiary. Under his leadership, however, the company turned into a diversified industrial conglomerate, with interests ranging from fertilizers, foods, petrochemicals, chemical storage, energy and commodity trading.
Small wonder, then, that Dawood was effusive in his praise of Umar when announcing the departure to the company’s employees, noting that under his leadership, Engro’s revenues had grown from just Rs13 billion in 2004 to Rs114 billion in 2011, growing at an annualised rate of nearly 36.4%. (Inflation during that time averaged 12.6% per year.)
Even within the core fertiliser business, Umar took Engro from being a local player to a globally competitive one, leading the firm into the $1.1 billion project that set up the world’s largest single-train urea manufacturing plant in Pakistan.
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Nov 11, 2014 08:20pm
Well, I am not a PTI follower but I like AU being a corporate leader. If AU is not allowed then LUMS management should invite NS to deliver a talk on 'How to earn from politcs and invest outside Pakistan.'
The event should be educational and follow a disciplined and rule governed approach in the pursuit of knowledge not political.
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Nov 11, 2014 08:35pm
Embarrassed situation for Asad Umar... Hope he will learn a thing or two from such a professional institute...Every thing they have tried to pollute and now even polluting education....big shame for PTI....
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Nov 11, 2014 08:48pm
No Surprise. Nawaz Sharif 'purchased' just one more person who cancelled the event.
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Nov 11, 2014 08:54pm
@Asif A Is it "waisting" time to learn to stand up for your rights, to recognize and combat attacks on citizens freedom of speech? one go places of learning to learn to discriminate right from wrong, perchance to learn to think for oneself?
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Nov 11, 2014 09:18pm
Educational institutions shouldn't take risk of becoming a party to politics.I respect LUMS for taking a difficult decision and averting itself from slipping into political quagmire. Yes, it is going to take flake for it but in the longer run, the decision will protect it from political parties. I hope LUMS does not have organized student hooliganism in the name of politics.
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Nov 11, 2014 10:22pm
How refreshing to see genuine discussion, without the rubbish ignorant comments of the neighbouring country. They lower the standards to zero.
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Nov 11, 2014 10:33pm
@tariq Love your sense of humour.
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Nov 11, 2014 10:45pm
Free speech must be upheld by institutions of higher learning. Respected institutions must step forward and provide an honest and independent platform to scrutinize politicians and their programs. This does not bode well for LUMS and is acting more like Lahore University of Mian Saharif (LUMS).
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Nov 11, 2014 11:15pm
Apparently, they were afraid Asad umer would declare dharna right in th e campus and would not end it until vice chancellor resigns from his post.
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Nov 11, 2014 11:16pm
@hammad habib like government does not have anything to do. Please get yourself a life
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Nov 12, 2014 12:44am
Another way of the N-league governments to marginalize their opponents by hook and crook techniques
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Nov 12, 2014 12:59am
LUMS should follow the example of the IBA Karachi. Numerous politicians able to speak up in an educated way in-front of learned youth came there and were bombarded with valid questions. Politico religious, socio economic subjects were touched upon, and street powers like MQM and second biggest of khi, PTI leaders attended... its time to open doors of freedom of mental development ... (y)
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Nov 12, 2014 02:30am
They refused Asad Umer?
LUMS are you ok ?
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Nov 12, 2014 02:46am
Pakistan's Educational Institutions do not approve of The Freedom of Speech; so I take it that ,LUMS have ready written speeches for their guests.
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Nov 12, 2014 05:10am
LUMS also politicized ? Shame on them. Just say NO to Nawaz & Shahbaz.
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Nov 12, 2014 05:21am
Columbia University in New york invited Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to deliver a lecture at the university during his visit for UN meeting. This was at the height of US-Iran discord. The US government did not interfare with the university's decision.There wee many people who were against his visit but the university did not budge.
How can a society grow intellectually if there is no difference of opinion and if the differences are not voiced. That is why Pakistan is what it is today: A country where mobs kill citizens without remorse or fear of consequenses. A country where a person who confesses to murdering hundreds of people infront of High Court justice goes scott free. Pakistan Zindabad!!!!
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Nov 12, 2014 05:42am
@Sarosh ! but sarosh how on earth do you justify the presence of people like abid sher Ali on an intellectual forum? you think he can even present or express the current and looming energy crisis? can he give any vision or way forward? or even can he deliver any structured talk on his department's performance? these people shall come to praise the king, shall be singing political mantra, declare themselves victim of dictatorship and champions of democracy. what else ........?
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Nov 12, 2014 08:00am
@Altaf Hussain Rizvi You sound like Altaf Hussain from London...making no sense
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Nov 12, 2014 08:46am
Lahore Under Mediocre Sharifs: LUMS.
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Nov 12, 2014 09:35am
The agenda of the talk should have been made clear. I agree that LUMS should not be made a political forum like KU and PU and that such freedom of speech could cause major clashes between LUMS students. I think the call was right but again, its clearly wrong to cancel a speech like that.
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Nov 12, 2014 10:56am
Disappointing.
If we cannot trust our students to make sense between logical arguments, political or not, how on earth can we expect them to take on leadership positions. AND if indeed this was political, then wouldnt the PM or CM or the President be political too. I say: LUMS invite Mr Modi to give a highly political talk. Have some guts to challenge the status quo.
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Nov 12, 2014 11:00am
LUMS is no more LUMS.
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Nov 12, 2014 11:44am
People stop making everything political. Every organization has some rules to follow. If he wasn't supposed to make a political speech and there was violation of the agreed terms, it was a good decision by the administration. I have personally arranged speeches by various speakers at NUST including Asad Umer. I like this man and most people love to listen to him. But believe me he or anyone else for that matter will never be allowed to make a political speech at NUST as it is strictly against the University policy. Same goes for other universities that follow strict rules and regulations.
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Nov 12, 2014 11:46am
@Ali A. LOL @Friday, friday 8 days :P
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Nov 12, 2014 01:00pm
Yes I agree with Asad Umar and mind it PTI is always right. LUMS must apologise to Asad Umar because he was member of board of trustee once therefore he has every right to break any law at LUMS.
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Nov 12, 2014 02:55pm
@Zain Ansari, Imran Khan is the voice of deprived.
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Nov 12, 2014 02:58pm
@Farah, well said.
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Nov 12, 2014 03:45pm
He should respect an educational institute's rules. Its unprofessional to give this a political turn and have ppl assume that some political party is behind it.
Play by the rules, Sir
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Nov 12, 2014 03:51pm
Leave the academic instructions unsullied by politics. Of course the politicians, other dignitaries, academics and students must be able to take part in any debate under the sun, if academic freedoms are to be upheld.
Students must be enlightened by free debates.
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Nov 12, 2014 06:22pm
Politics, politics and politics.
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Nov 12, 2014 07:13pm
@Confused Does Javed Hashmi have the same educational, business and management experience as Mr. Umar?
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Nov 12, 2014 07:14pm
@Aamna H. Fasihi Excellent point!
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Nov 12, 2014 08:11pm
Proves Imran Khan's point, Nawaz Sharif has stolen enough money to buy everybody off, except the one and only institution standing.
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Nov 12, 2014 08:14pm
@Zain Ansari;
Of course, "radical" for the corruption establishment is someone against corruption.
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Nov 12, 2014 08:19pm
@Farah;
"Why is the government still on panic mode? Hiding their crimes??"
One reason for the panic is that Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri is coming back in less than a week. The deep state of the status quo, particularly in our media have been working overtime to convince the masses that Dr. Sahib is gone, and that too because of a deal, their lies are about to be exposed yet again.
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Nov 12, 2014 10:25pm
Its not ethically good thing to invite someone and then refuse that celebrity to talk in the event. Its against the self-respect of any personality.
Any one should be and can be invited and should have permission to talk about the ideology he supports rather than discussing or presenting his political party aims & objectives.
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Nov 13, 2014 11:06am
@Ali A.
It is not Woke up. it should be wake up. You English shows what caliber you are. And you don't even know who Asad Umar is. He is a self made man, A graduate from IBA. Was CEO of Engro and reached that post without any any political links.
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Nov 13, 2014 11:13am
I still see many ignorant people who cant decide between right and wrong. Asad Umar is a honorable man and PMLN is bound to make fake news against him. This is what PMLN had done for the past 40 years.
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Nov 13, 2014 02:34pm
i think there is nothing wrong with doing this, u have to agree that Asad Umar would have promoted the political campaign rather than the educational which could offend the PML N workers, which could have led to the destruction of peace. So LUMS took a wise decision.
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Nov 13, 2014 04:16pm
And the Burger Boys get upset...
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Nov 13, 2014 04:42pm
LUMS should invite Rehman Malik and award him with honorary PhD degree, like Karachi University did. Rehman Malik would down in history as the best Interior Minister of Pakistan. How can nation forget services of such an 'articulate', 'knowledgeable', 'honest' and 'intelligent' person? People must be missing his speeches. What a patriotic son of soil. How many in Pakistan can claim that they knew before any crime took place? Now its such an honour for people of Pakistan to see a person of such a high calibre in Senate. Just imagine if he was President of Pakistan, how fast Pakistan would progress in all field, becoming #1 country in the world?
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Nov 13, 2014 08:57pm
Just goes to show that LUMS is one of the regular pakistani universities where the management can't walk the talk. Poor management by management science institiution.
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