THE recent incident that took place at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) in Lahore where the caretaker prime minister was cornered during questioning by some students subsequently attracted a lot of reaction across social media platforms where the students were appreciated for their ‘courage’ to question the late arrival of the prime minister.

I may also have appreciated the same had it not been pre-planned and politically motivated with a particular mindset. It was obvious that it was all done to get material for the social media team of a particular political party where prominence is only given to the questions and the reaction of

the audience, while ignoring the replies, which in this case happened to be befitting and to the point.

It was quite rude of the LUMS management and the students to put the guest they had themselves invited, in a humiliating position to favour a certain political agenda. I am sorry to say that such type of aggressive and demeaning attitude among the youth resulted in May 9 incidents.

Moreover, this is not reflective of students’ feelings in general, as most of the students in such institutions belong to the elite class and will leave for higher studies in a foreign country and settle there, leaving this country in the lurch between hope and despair.

Malik ul Quddoos
Karachi

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2023