Varying versions: LLF organisers upbeat despite NOC withdrawal
Organisers claim event will go ahead as per schedule despite City District Government revoking NOC to hold event
Day 3 of Lahore Literature Festival 2015. PHOTO: APP
While district authorities have revoked an NoC granted for the upcoming Lahore Literary Festival (LLF) fuelling rumours regarding its imminent cancellation, the extravaganza’s organisers have told The Express Tribune that the event will go-ahead as originally planned.
Imran Maqbool of the DCO’s Office said that the certificate for the festival had indeed been cancelled. He asserted that the event would not take place. “It is intimated that due to heightened security threats the NOC issued by this office vide letter No. AO(C)/BA/1044 dated 21.01.2016 is hereby withdrawn forthwith in the larger public interest,” a letter dated January 30, 2016 reads.
Publicist Nusrat Jamil, who is associated with the LLF in an advisory position, told The Express Tribune that the festival’s organisers were yet to be intimated in this regard. “We obtained the NoC three months ago,” she said. LLF CEO Razi Ahmed said the event would go-ahead as planned. Alhamra on The Mall PRO Subha Sadiq the venue’s administration had not been informed of LLF’s cancellation. The official said that the premises remained reserved for the event.
A source from the Chief Minister’s Office told The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity that the event would ultimately commence just as it had last year amid rumours regarding its cancellation. He said district authorities tended to get jittery whenever a major event of the festival’s ilk was to be executed. The official said all reservations would be ultimately addressed and the festival would kick-off as scheduled.
The three-day event, slated to commence on Friday, boasts an exhaustive list of academics, journalists, writers, artists and politicians scheduled to speak on a myriad of topics. Veteran actor Sharmila Tagore will deliver the keynote address. Other prominent figures including writer Mohsin Hamid, author Kamila Shamsie, writer Tehmina Durrani, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Sherry Rehman and academic CM Naim will also speak at the festival.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 18th, 2016.