New Delhi: Pakistanis following the ongoing student protest at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, are curious and jealous—‘why does this not happen in Pakistan?’
Spearheaded by mostly youth, the Cockroach Janta Party-led protests over NEET paper leaks have drawn widespread attention, both domestically and globally. Across the border, Pakistanis have been watching in awe. The songs, the slogans and the cause—everything is being dissected.
There are questions and a consensus. People are asking why Pakistani youth don’t hit the streets or why D-Chowk (Democracy Chowk) in Islamabad never witnesses a crowd rallying behind a cause, other than for cricket matches screened live. The consensus, according to content creator Muhammad Waleed, is the answer: “Pakistan never had a democracy to begin with.”
Former Dawn editor Cyril Almeida described the Jantar Mantar protests as a “warning to Pindi.” Rawalpindi is where Pakistan‘s GHQ, or Army headquarters, is located.
‘Our country lacks such revolution’
There are also comparisons on how both countries seem to function similarly when it comes to police brutality.
Waleed dissected the lessons the Pakistani youth could learn from Indians in a long video on Instagram.
“Agar ehtejaaj karna hai toh phir bade level pe karna chahiye (if you want to protest, do it on a bigger level),” he said. “Pakistanis are never able to show intent. They have an ‘I don’t give a damn attitude’. They just keep harping on taking a degree and leaving the country. This is loser behaviour.”
Others like Nomi Syed, another Pakistani content creator, lamented that across the subcontinent, somehow “Bangladeshis are able to bring a change, Indians can protest but Pakistanis lack these kinds of people.”
“Hamare mulk me aisa koi inqalab nahi aata” (our country could never witness such a revolution”), he said.
Another prominent influencer Mahwash Ajaz went on a tirade to point out how protests in India have particular standout qualities— “they sing Vande Mataram and protest for the betterment of the country”, but Pakistanis are labelled ‘separatists’.
“Then we are like, what are you doing here?”, she added.
However, not everyone agreed. Human rights journalist Alifiya Sohail said, “You literally talk about protests in Pakistan the same way Indian media talks about protests in India.”
Creator Ahsan Mirza shared a message saying, “Pakistani students are with you. If students don’t support other students, who will? We are all one. We face the same repression you face. We are hit by expired tear gas shells, just like you. In our case, the government makes it worse”.
He then also gave advice, “If matters get out of hand, do not think of yourself as Bhagat Singh; run for your life. It is important”.
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‘PM changes in Pakistan every two years’
On X, most are tired of the same old narratives. GenZ refuses to indulge.
“Pakistani dictators use the Indian angle. Indian dictators use the Pakistani angle. I just can’t prove it, but ye sb andar hee andar miley huye hain,” X user Shinza added.
Then came the anger, while drawing parallels.
“Indian creators and influencers are unapologetically standing with their people and demanding accountability from their govt. Meanwhile here our influencers are always ready to act as mouthpieces for the oppressors, just waiting for an opportunity. Spineless lot”, X user Abdullah posted.
Then some are tired of their media. TV debates on the CJP protests have taken centre stage in the neighbouring country.
Journalist Rauf Klasra shared a clip from a show on X where he argued, “In Pakistan, since 2002, the Prime Minister has been changed every two and a half years, so the situation never reaches the point of needing to topple the throne through riots and unrest… In Pakistan, this removing or toppling of the throne has been happening regularly since 1985, so no one even feels the need to protest. New Prime Minister, new hopes… change again after two and a half years.”
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CJP protests
Pakistan too is currently witnessing multiple protests in PoK and other restive regions. In response, journalists are questioning why the protests at home are never subject to prime time debate.
The rest resorted to humour. A 22-year-old Amsha from Murree in Pakistan wrote: “BJP saying Pakistan is funding these Jantar Mantar protests is so funny cuz Pakistan pehle khud tuo apne education sector ko fund krle.”
Protests erupted in New Delhi early this month after the satirical CJP launched a movement at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar over NEET paper leaks. Indian educationist Sonam Wangchuk announced a hunger strike and joined the protesters’ demand for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan‘s resignation.
After the Delhi Police forcibly took him away on 18 July, thousands of protesters gathered for a march to Parliament to coincide with the start of the Monsoon Session.
(Edited by Saptak Datta)