Gul slams German envoy for ‘disrespecting’ Pakistani citizen

TJP chief demands ambassador should apologise to the nation

Tehreek Jawanan Pakistan (TJP) Chairman Mohammad Abdullah Gul has described the German ambassador “disrespecting” a Pakistani citizen on the country’s soil in an “undiplomatic” language at the Asma Jahangir conference in Lahore against “diplomatic etiquettes”.

According to a news statement, he said raising voice for an oppressed country at a conference, which was organised for the right to expression, was also a “freedom of opinion”.

Gul continued that while expressing the freedom of opinion, the German ambassador had the courage to use undiplomatic and offensive language for Pakistan’s citizens on the country’s own soil.

He added that perhaps the German government did not teach diplomatic etiquettes to its envoys before deploying them to other countries.

The TJP chief demanded that Pakistan’s Foreign Office should summon the German ambassador and register a protest on behalf of the nation.

Read: German envoy called out for ‘lecture’ on civil rights

He further demanded that the German ambassador, who considers himself “more like a viceroy”, should apologise to the Pakistani nation for his misbehaviour.

Otherwise, he warned that he would reserve the right to stage a nationwide protest against the German envoy by university students across Pakistan.

A day earlier, pro-Palestinian youth vociferously expressed their solidarity with the people of Gaza, disrupting the speech of German Ambassador Alfred Grannas at the conference.

As he began speaking, several young attendees stood up, engaging in a spirited dialogue.

One protester challenged the ambassador, stating, “Excuse me, Mr ambassador. I am appalled by the audacity of discussing civil rights while your country is accused of brutalities against Palestinians”.

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In response to the youth's fervent expressions, the German ambassador lost control and scolded them, saying: “Shouting is not dialogue… if you wish to shout, do so outside… shame on you”.

Subsequently, the conference’s organisers expelled the vocal youth advocating for Palestine.