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Written by Junaid S. Ahmad. Originally published on GlobalResearch
This, of course, follows the largest single-day nationwide protests in Pakistan last Sunday.
I hope our friends in Western alternative media will be so gracious (and self-correcting) to permit us all to put to rest now, the idea that these demonstrators are limited to the ‘educated’ and ‘urban middle class’, disconnected from the rest of Pakistan. And just by the way, I’m not sure why these labels are deployed so disapprovingly – especially by progressive Pakistani pundits who inhabit that same social class.
Almost half of Pakistanis are ‘urban’ by this point, which would obviously make them an important support base. And it’s quite bizarre why the term ‘educated’ is used either pejoratively or to associate it exclusively with the ‘middle class.’ A majority of Pakistanis from the lower classes are educated (but don’t necessarily have the ‘cultural capital’ or patronage networks of those above them to get good jobs), and a significant chunk of our upper classes have never felt the need for formal education.
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We’ve also been given the impression that only dominant class and ethnic groups are the ones coming out in support of Khan. The Pashtuns, who Pakistani progressives have correctly considered to have been brutalized and marginalized by the ‘War on Terror,’ seem to be blinded by some ‘false consciousness’ (ostensibly, just like all of the non-‘urban middle class’ demonstrators) since they have come out on the streets in the hundreds of thousands on Wednesday evening.
I hope and pray that the Pakistani liberal-left and their very friendly hosts in Western alternative media carry on with caricatures of Khan till their hearts’ content, but go easy on the millions of demonstrators who don’t deserve the disparaging mischaracterizations to which they’ve been subjected.
Junaid S. Ahmad teaches Religion, Law, and Politics and is the Director of the Center for the Study of Islam and Decoloniality. He is a regular contributor to Global Research.
impressive, when are the new elections?
Fuck Pakistan
Fuch you pigshit zio terrorist Jews…scummy of humanity, children of Lucifer
Yes, the correct name should be terroristan.
Chris Gr Please confirm you have Turkish DNA but you so hyped up to say you are Greek
Greek DNA I have. You have Turkish DNA because you are descendant of Mughals.
Iron zion Absolutely so you will start showing your Willy as you are so hyped up
Imran better watch his back…the zio terrorist EVIL EMPIRE, USA….United Snakes of Aipac, will surely now have the CIA do a hit on him. They are snorting now as they realize the ground swell of support he has.
Punjabistan us close to disintegration. Personally, these people are Turkish friendly and support the Taliban, so I don’t like them. On the other hand, they are exploited by the US for their interests. Yes, Imran Khan is the better choice but still he supports radical groups in Afghanistan and Kashmir and he helps the Turkish and Iranian enemies.
Chris jGr Strange what is coming out your mouth as you Have Turkish DNA and you are so messed up to claim you are Greek
Well done Imran!! 😁
IMRAN KHAN HAS CREATED A NEW SITUATION THAT ALL ARE PAKISTANI IE he has united the nation into a Single identity called PAKISTAN FANTASTIC ACHIEVEMENT THAT HURTS zionist Christian west
The west is not Christian Zionist but atheist.
Chris Gr As you have Turkish DNA by your admission but pretending to be Greek please note zionist control the west via co opting the Christian churches into quasi alliances