The solution to Pakistan’s problems lies less in politics and more and more in democracy
TURBAT: A group of students sang the legendary poem Sarfaroshi ki Tamanna written by Bismil Azimabadi in 1922 at the Faiz festival. They were protesting against the ban on student unions in universities. A vast majority of Pakistanis criticised the young girl and accused her of being an elitist desi liberal on social media.
It is ironic that people were quick to jump to the conclusion about Arooj Aurangzeb and the entire student movement, making assumptions such as labeling them as bourgeois, anti-state or un-Islamic. In the midst of fee hikes, harassment scandals and arrests from campuses, students across the country will obviously come together for a Student Solidarity March on November 29 to demand better education and a fair academic environment. The students argue that no one should let their cynicism come in the way of supporting the larger common cause. They further emphasise that they are marching against the system which labels them as “Terrorists” for demanding clean water on campus and puts them behind bars for opposing dictatorship of administration on campus.
They think that every Pakistani that is demanding investment and reform in education is a part of some foreign agenda conspiracy. Will Pakistan’s enemies benefit if our universities are developed and safe? Are the students fighting to save higher education committing treason? We must redefine patriotism in Pakistan, as the solution to Pakistan’s problems lies less in politics and more and more in democracy.
Jakkaran Musa
Published in The Express Tribune, November 24th, 2019.
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