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Updated 24 Jan, 2018

Update: The LLF announced that Fasih Ahmed has resigned from the board of the Lahore Literary Festival.

He also issued a public apology on Twitter:

On Tuesday, Newsweek Pakistan editor-in-chief Fasih Ahmed sparked angry reactions on Twitter with a series of insensitive tweets about child abuse.

His tweets, made in the wake of the arrest of a suspect of the high-profile Zainab rape/murder case, drew replies from international luminaries, including actor Alyssa Milano.

Newsweek has since tweeted saying that it is reconsidering its relationship with Newsweek Pakistan.

In his spew of tweets, Ahmed was abusive towards a number of respondents, including Egyptian-American writer Mona Eltahawy who has been a speaker at Lahore Literature Festival (LLF), of which Ahmed was a board member.

This sparked a call for a boycott of LLF until Ahmed was removed from the board.

While some specifically asked authors to boycott LLF, others pointed out the hypocrisy of Lahore's literary elite.

Comments

Jk Jan 24, 2018 10:39am
All he needs is a kick in his behind. To me he sounded like a passive individual who craves for a kick in his backside.
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Nisar Jan 24, 2018 10:50am
What an amazing insight to a truly troubled and sick mind. With influential sick monsters like him in high society how can any child be safe.
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sheema zain Jan 24, 2018 10:54am
He should certainly be boycotted.
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imama Jan 24, 2018 10:57am
it has made me sad.. Such a cruel, brutal and shameless person.
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imama Jan 24, 2018 11:07am
@Nisar totally agree.
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itrat khaliq Jan 24, 2018 11:21am
News week should fire this guy . These kind of comments from an editor should not be tolerated .
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Pakistani Jan 24, 2018 11:25am
Fire him Newsweek!
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Neo Jan 24, 2018 11:46am
Disgusting.
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Mark Jan 24, 2018 11:59am
He really has a sick mind to say something like this !! Not only should he be boycotted but banned from writing for any publication .
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Mark Jan 24, 2018 12:21pm
@Pakistani Newsweek has already written that they are reviewing their relationship with Newsweek Pakistan - as it has a licensing agreement with them
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Shahzad Jan 24, 2018 12:35pm
He should be arrested immediately and sent to a mental hospital so they would check his mental state. I don't think he's in the right frame of mind. Sounds like a sicko who's associating something as cruel as child rape with art. Newsweek PK must terminate him immediately!
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farhan Jan 24, 2018 12:38pm
Fire him & loathe at his humor or satire whatever. I would love to spit on this ugly insensitive creature.
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Chatterjee Jan 24, 2018 12:52pm
This dude has nothing upstairs! His moral compass is out of order! He needs to be expelled from his current position!
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NKAli Jan 24, 2018 02:36pm
Frankly, anybody who criticizes someone who has suffered a misfortune for no fault of his/hers, must be taught a good lesson in manners... the hard way. Pakistanis have a lot to learn. Salams
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Ali Jan 24, 2018 06:33pm
What planet is this guy on?
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Honesty Jan 25, 2018 12:41am
He should be fired from his job.
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Adil Jadoon Jan 25, 2018 01:40am
His comments could not have been taken any differently. He can only be ashamed of his actions and we must insist on his acvountability!
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wasim Jan 25, 2018 06:36am
I can't imagine people at this level can have such sick thoughts...so insensitive
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CarlMarcs Jan 25, 2018 09:31am
This sickness is deeper. When perversion is the norm in a society, it is hopeless.
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Sana Jan 25, 2018 11:43am
ha! Lahore Lit Fest comprises many jewels like him. LLF is an elitist escape - a bunch of liberal elite who do not represent us. Fasih just exposed himself, there are many still there in LLF.
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This country is in shambles Jan 26, 2018 08:43pm
@Sana I know what you mean.... I’ve met people spewing forth their deranged philosophies coupled with their filthiest mindsets absolutely accepting rape and child molestation as a way of life in our society. Kids are just easier ‘game ‘. And they envision that experience- and ‘see the art in it’! They find it offensive when questioned.
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