Just when the images from National Games 2019 Peshawar went viral across social media, giving us hope that things are changing, another photo has raised questions. According to posts floating on social media, the University of Peshawar (UoP) arranged a seminar of cricketer-turned-Islamist evangelist Saeed Anwar on “how to eliminate stress from your life”. However, women were barred from seeing the stage and the speaker using a blank screen.
South Asia Media Research Institute (SAMRA) posted the photo on Twitter.
”Cricketer turned Islamist evangelist Saeed Anwar gave a talk on “how to eliminate stress from your life” at the University of Peshawar. Women were made to sit facing a blank screen, unable to see the stage”.
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he image garnered a lot of criticism from the social media users, who said that seeing it happening even in 2019 is quite an unpleasant sight.
Not very unique…Talibanisation in process…those at the decision making think they have the right to restrict & control women’s participation. However, not limited to #UoP…
— Bushra Gohar (@BushraGohar) December 3, 2019
Even at university level they aren’t mature enough to arrange a program without the partition of males and females so what else can we expect from such a “prestigious” institute.
— Abdul Rehman (@Engr_AR) December 3, 2019
Almost all the girls are wearing proper hijaab, still they need a tamboo to protect them from boys or to protect boys from them,, what a taboo 😀
— Hassan Ali Shah (@hassan7711) December 4, 2019
Don’t you think the Gen Zia’s Era has been practically reversed when in the same @upeshpakistan, the administration even made proper arrangments for keeping the male and female students separate in the same class rooms.
— Hamid Qazi (@HamidQazi14) December 3, 2019
لعنت ایسے تعلیم اور ایسی یونیورسٹی پہ۔ اور ایسی سوچ اور تربیت اور اساتذہ پہ اور ایڈمنسٹریشن پہ۔
— Aimal khan (@aimalkn) December 3, 2019
Political instability, disproportionate influence on governance by the security forces, suppression of media and civil society leading to the violent insurgency, and the ever-escalating ethnic and religious tensions have truly poisoned Pakistan’s social landscape. All these factors have contributed to widening the gender gap in Pakistan, leading to increased polarization and frustration.
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