A fraction of social media users criticized student rights activist Arooj Aurangzaib, who led a student protest at recently concluded Faiz Festival in Lahore, for donning a leather jacket during the protest.
sarfaroshi kī tamanna ab hamare dil mein hai
dekhna hai zor kitnā baazu-e-qatil mein hai #Lahore #faizfestival2019 pic.twitter.com/zGdL8uU11W— Shiraz Hassan (@ShirazHassan) November 17, 2019
Mobilization for #StudentSolidarityMarch looking strong! Something new and wonderful beckons. https://t.co/gmCCBNBCTB
— Aima Khosa (@aimaMK) November 17, 2019
Recently, a group of students attracted attention on social media after a couple of their videos chanting Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s poetry ‘Sarfaroshi ki Tamanna‘ at the festival hit the internet. A small protest was organized in the purview of the upcoming Student Solidarity March, which will raise voice for the resumption of the student politics. The protests under the Student Solidarity March will be organized in Karachi, Islamabad, and Lahore on November 29th.
The protests will put forth a couple of demands to the government including the immediate uplift of the ban from student unions across the country. To reverse the recent hike in the university’s fees, to ensure free education for the students. It seeks substantial reforms in the education system of Pakistan and most importantly the protection of female students from sexual harassment and swift conclusion of harassment cases.
Y’all got issues with a leather jacket? A JACKET?!?!?
— aliterate (@madvil_a) November 19, 2019
ab leather jacket sey bhi issue hai? activism mein poverty porn hoga tou you ll accept it as "real activism" haina?
— Atiya (@bhumrobhumro) November 18, 2019
While, students garnered appreciation on social media for ensuing a reformist movement, taking up the stand and challenging the authorities to take up the issue there was a fraction of social media users which slammed the students particularly, Arooj Aurangzaib, the most vocal among all.
Read more: Doing more with less: The challenge of higher education in Pakistan
The naysayers slammed Aurangzaib based on her black leather jacket she donned during the protest, which, gave an impression to them that she belonged to an elite family. Hence, people from an elite background cannot run a revolutionary reformist movement.
really disheartening to see such tweets in which the woman in this video is being called an elitist 'burger' lahori. is it her confidence that's bothering you? her leather jacket? please take your pettiness & misogyny elsewhere to make your shitty points. https://t.co/xpvcanWPGf
— Zoya Rehman (@pind_wave) November 18, 2019
anyway i bought a super hot leather jacket for my sister from gulf in 1200 rupay
— hoziers hoe🌈 (@la9at) November 18, 2019
According to them, the elite youth will beat the drum, gather a group of audience, creates social media sensation and will return to their luxurious homes. Many of the critics even assumed that all the students belonged to LUMS, which they did not.
Desi Surkhas believe in keeping the wealth from the serfs on their land holdings, being chauffeured by their ill paid drivers and served on by their maids.
Very revolutionary people.
— Richard Harris (@HarrisRichard77) November 17, 2019
— wains (@saniwains) November 17, 2019
https://twitter.com/AliYumza/status/1196234077122244609
A lot of social media criticized the naysayers calling them for unduly ridiculing the woman just because they are uncomfortable with the idea of a woman leading a protest. Female social media users particularly defended Arooj Aurangzaib on social media.
Anybody who is confusing her for a ‘burger’ should trying shouting slogans for 3 minutes. Pura hafta gala band rahay ga.
— Yasser Hashmi (@YasserHashmi) November 18, 2019
The demands for the restoration of student union surfaced after two students were rusticated from UET Lahore. The student criticized that a robust student union can challenge an unjustifiable move from the educational institutions.