At the Asma Jahangir Conference, Ali Abdullah, President of the Progressive Students’ Collective (PSC), questioned the German Ambassador over her statements on disability issues, pointing out that her government simultaneously funds programs that harm children in Gaza.
Ali Abdullah highlighted that freedom of expression appears to be respected only when criticism is directed at the Government of Pakistan or state institutions. When questions are raised about other governments or authorities, he noted, some Western-leaning liberal groups react quickly to stifle and silence the speaker. He described this as a clear example of double standards in human rights and freedom of expression.
He further urged participants to collect clips and footage from other conferences to expose these contradictions and biases, showing that freedom of expression is not applied equally for everyone.
This response by the PSC President reflects broader concerns about the selective enforcement of freedom of expression internationally and illustrates how some institutions and governments permit criticism of certain states while limiting scrutiny of others.
