‘Proposal video’: Fawad asks UoL’s officials to reconsider its decision on expulsion of students

ISLAMABAD:  Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry has defended two former students of the University of Lahore’s (UoL) who were expelled by the varsity’s administration for proposing to each other at campus premises.

Reacting to the University of Lahore students’ video, Chaudhry defended the couple and asked the varsity to reconsider its decision to expel them. “Every girl has the right to marry of her own will. Marriage by choice is one of the central rights Islam gives to women,” the minister tweeted.

مرضی سے شادی ہر لڑکی کا بنیادی حق ہے، اسلام عورتوں کو جو حقوق دیتا ہے مرضی کی شادی ان حقوق میں مرکزی حیثئیت رکھتی ہے یونیورسٹی انتظامیہ اپنے فیصلے پر نظرثانی کرے، لڑکیوں کو پراپرٹی سمجھنا اسلام کے خلاف ہے

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) March 15, 2021

The students were expelled from the University of Lahore on 12 Feb for hugging on campus. 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.

Meanwhile, several videos were uploaded online of the incident. Social media users suggested that the only cause they were criticized was because the proposal went viral online. Others thought there are a lot of other issues for society to be concerned with, such as harassment and vulgarity.

Powerful! Expressive! Full of hope & love! More power to the youth! https://t.co/5X2HjkY6hQ

— Dr. Sharmila sahibah faruqui (Phd) s.i (@sharmilafaruqi) March 14, 2021

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

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