Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s speech at the 3rd Asma Jahangir Conference on Sunday was cut off shortly after he began, as internet service at the venue was reportedly suspended. The organisers condemned this act and called it an “onslaught on the freedom of expression.”

The PML-N supermo was speaking at the closing ceremony of the conference via video link from London.

The conference is held to pay tribute to the late lawyer and human rights activist Asma Jahangir. The event was taking place at a local hotel in Lahore after two years from November 20 to 21.

A host of legal experts, politicians, journalists, activists, and members of the civil society had gathered to discuss various human rights issues.

In his closing speech, Nawaz criticised the interference of the military establishment in judicial and government affairs and claimed that they are responsible for Pakistan’s “downfall.”

“We are in need of a national agenda to pull country out of these crises,” he said.

Referring to the suspension of the internet service at the conference venue, Nawaz said that “pulling our tongues will not solve the problem.” He added that the current govt has proven to be the worst for freedom of speech and human rights.

In a statement issued after the event, the organisers said that they “regret the state’s highhandedness.”

“The organizers of Asma Jahangir Conference 21 which includes the Supreme Court Bar Association, Pakistan Bar Council, and the AGHS, strongly condemn this act and consider it an onslaught on the freedom of expression. These steps can never deter our resolve to give voice to the marginalized communities,” said the statement.

The organisers also claim to have set up a telephonic call with Nawaz after the video link was cut off.

One of the organisers of the conference, Asma’s daughter Munizae Jahangir said, “We believe in freedom of expression that is why this non-partisan platform is open to everyone and we condemn the muzzling of the closing session where Mian Nawaz Sharif was going to make an address.”

The former prime minister’s participation in the conference was criticised by a number of senior govt officials.

Information minister Fawad Chaudhry said that he had been invited to the conference but he “apologized for not attending” upon finding out that the “conference would end with a speech by a fugitive accused.”

“Obviously, this is tantamount of mockery of the country and the constitution,” he said in a tweet.

Human rights minister Shireen Mazari also tweeted about the conference and said, “When conference organisers call a convict to give concluding address then their political agenda becomes very overt. Unfortunate indeed.”

Minister of energy mocked the conference’s theme, ‘Challenge to human dignity,’ and said, “Think positive; Perhaps the idea was to focus on human rights of absconders.”