LUMS convocation: ‘Strive for freedoms of speech, religion’

LAHORE:

Former Supreme Court Bar Association president Asma Jahangir on Wednesday called upon the graduating batch of students at the Lahore University of Management Sciences to work towards promotion of freedom of speech and religion in the country.

She was delivering the keynote address at the 27th convocation ceremony at the university.

Jahangir said the graduates should uphold principles of freedom of speech and religion, respect for human rights and tolerance towards others’ beliefs and practices regardless of their career choices.



Jahangir said those proceeding to employment should bear in mind that they were graduating from one of the most prestigious institution in the country. “Your opinion will carry a lot of influence. You can change the world around you with your actions,” she said. Jahangir advised students to work in collaboration with people who share their principles rather than in isolation. “Build institutions to promote sustainable change in the society,” she said.

Addressing females in the graduating batch, she said they should not feel any shame in standing up for their rights.

Jahangir concluded her speech by congratulating the graduates and thanking the LUMS administration for inviting her to the event.

Earlier, Vice Chancellor Syed Sohail Naqvi urged the graduates to be grateful to their parents and teachers who had supported and guided them throughout their academic career. “I am certain that your graduation would not have been possible without the support and guidance of your parents and teachers,” he said.

The convocation ceremonies had started on Tuesday night with a graduate dinner. The winners of the National Management Foundation (NMF) and corporate medals and those placed on the dean’s honour list were recognised at the event.

The ceremony on Wednesday started with a procession of the graduating batch that ended at the convocation venue. Degrees were awarded to 869 students from the four schools: Suleman Dawood School of Business (SDSB), Mushtaq Ahmad Gurmani School of Humanities and Social Sciences (MGSHSS), Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering (SBASSE) and Shaikh Ahmad Hassan School of Law (SAHSOL).

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18^th, 2015.