KARACHI: Social activist and wife of former cricketer Wasim Akram, Shaniera Akram and Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Political Communication Shahbaz Gill have raised their voice against the university’s decision to expel the students after a video of them proposing each other went viral.
On a social media website Twitter, Shaniera Akram said, “We just celebrated International Women’s Day, and here we are with a top university expelling a young woman for having the confidence and empowerment to ask a man to marry her amongst the security of her peers.”
We just celebrated International women’s day and here we are with a top University expelling a young woman for having the confidence and empowerment to ask a man to marry her amongst the security of her peers. What kind of example are we setting here ? #CantExpelLove
— Shaniera Akram (@iamShaniera) March 13, 2021
“What kind of example are we setting here?” she asked, adding: “Our celebrities & sports stars propose, show affection or date in public but it’s not okay for our youth to do so?”
https://twitter.com/iamShaniera/status/1370715603439288322
She said “75% of our country is under the age of 30, Most of them are on social media. Our celebrities & sports stars propose, show affection or date in public but it’s not ok for our youth to do so? That’s double standards to the next level. I say let the youth of today live their own life.”
https://twitter.com/iamShaniera/status/1370712182476828673
Meanwhile, the premier’s special assistant said they were “young children … who are unaware of the many worries of life”. “They should indeed have avoided hugging, in view of our culture and values,” the special assistant said.
“But expelling them from the university is not the solution. Give them a small punishment. Getting an education is a fundamental right,” he added.
یہ چھوٹے بچے ہیں۔زندگی کی بہت ساری گھمبیرتوں سے ناواقف۔ یہ درست ہے کہ انہیں اپنے کلچر تہذیب کو مد نظر رکھتے ہوئے یوں سماجی بغل گیری سے اجتناب کرنا چاہئیے تھا۔لیکن انہیں یونیورسٹی سے بے دخل کر دینا اس کا حل نہیں۔کوئی چھوٹی سزا دے دیں۔تعلیم حاصل کرنا تو بنیادی حق ہے@fawadchaudhry https://t.co/8A2WLyz44P
— Dr. Shahbaz GiLL (@SHABAZGIL) March 13, 2021
Two students were expelled from the University of Lahore on Friday for hugging on campus and people are divided over whether this was the right decision.
According to a statement issued by the registrar of the varsity, a special disciplinary committee meeting was held on March 12 at 10:30 am and the two students were called in but failed to appear. The committee then decided to expel the two students and ban them from entering any of the university’s campuses.
The university says they violated Section 9 of its General Discipline Rules and Code of Conduct. These rules are not published online.
Multiple videos were uploaded online of the “incident”. The videos show a young woman handing roses and cards to a young man and then bending down on one knee and holding out a bouquet of roses to him. He takes the roses and then pulls her in for a hug. A crowd of students surrounds the couple and cheers them on.
Ridiculous. https://t.co/DxVGXVpdqq
— Bakhtawar B-Zardari (@BakhtawarBZ) March 13, 2021
The expulsion of those two kids for the crime of displaying affection is so true to form.
This country will ask kids to shut their eyes when two people kiss on-screen, but treat a show that glorifies beheadings as a natural treasure.
— Salaar Khan (@Brainmasalaar) March 13, 2021
