Professors and teachers are the custodians of knowledge. They are intellectual leaders who dedicate their lives to nurturing future generations. They shape minds and serve as moral compasses in societies increasingly defined by noise and chaos. In Pakistan, where education continues to face systemic neglect, the stature of a teacher should be elevated, not trampled upon.
It is deeply troubling, then, when a professor is physically harmed and humiliated simply for speaking up about a health concern. Asking someone not to burn garbage in front of one's home, especially when the smoke causes difficulty in breathing, is a basic and reasonable request. When such a plea leads to violence, something is profoundly wrong with our attitudes toward both authority and those who serve in education.
Dr Afaq Ahmed Siddiqui, a respected professor at Karachi University, reportedly sustained an injury near his eye after a confrontation with a Rangers man. This cannot and must not be rationalised. No excuse gives anyone the right to treat a citizen — least of all an educator — with such disrespect. Though the Rangers have suspended the person involved and issued an apology, a deeper institutional reflection is needed. Why do such incidents continue to occur? What safeguards exist against such acts?
The state itself must adopt policies that protect educators and reinforce a culture of respect. Whether it is through better grievance redressal mechanisms or awareness training for security personnel, the system must ensure that teachers are safe not only in their classrooms but in their communities. If we allow our teachers to be treated in this way, we undermine not only their individual dignity but also the very foundations of education in this country. A society that fails to protect its educators is a society that sabotages its own future.
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