It is now Pakistan's turn, a deleted op-ed by Gen Z student going insanely viral in neighbouring country
In the article, Nizamani argued that Pakistan’s ruling elite has lost its ability to influence younger generations
Not just Nepal or Bangladesh, Pakistan, too, is witnessing a quiet generational shift, not through street protests, but through ideas challenging long-standing power structures.
This debate intensified after the removal of a controversial op-ed written by a young Pakistani academic which, many believe, was taken down under pressure from the country’s military establishment.
The article, titled 'It Is Over' was authored by Zorain Nizamani, a Pakistani Ph D student based in the United States, and published by The Express Tribune on January 1.
It was removed from the newspaper’s website within hours of publication, triggering widespread outrage on social media and renewed discussion about censorship and freedom of expression in Pakistan.
Zorain Nizamani's article "It Is Over" being removed only confirms its truth. University talks and forced patriotism no longer work. Gen Z sees corruption, inequality, and hypocrisy clearly. Without justice, jobs, and dignity, propaganda fails. Old control methods are dead, the… pic.twitter.com/mUjWE0TBDW
— PTI Canada Official (@PTIOfficialCA) January 2, 2026
Screenshots of the op-ed quickly went viral, with many Pakistanis accusing the state of suppressing dissenting voices.
Nizamani, who is pursuing a Ph D in criminology at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and is the son of actors Fazila Qazi and Qaiser Khan Nizamani, was widely praised online, with some users describing him as a symbol of generational resistance.
In the article, Nizamani argued that Pakistan’s ruling elite has lost its ability to influence younger generations. He wrote that state-sponsored efforts such as lectures, seminars, and patriotic campaigns no longer resonate with Gen Z and Gen Alpha, who are increasingly skeptical of official narratives.
“For the older men and women in power, it’s over. The young generation isn’t buying any of what you’re trying to sell to them,” he wrote, adding that patriotism cannot be manufactured through slogans or speeches.
Without directly naming the military, Nizamani stressed that genuine patriotism develops when citizens are provided equal opportunities, functional systems, reliable infrastructure, and guaranteed rights. He argued that young people, empowered by internet access and exposure to information, are capable of seeing through what he described as propaganda.
“You have failed to tell people what to think. They are thinking for themselves,” he wrote, noting that fear often prevents young people from speaking openly.
Nizamani also highlighted the growing trend of youth migration, suggesting that many young Pakistanis choose to leave the country rather than confront entrenched power structures. According to him, those who attempted to speak out faced silencing, pushing others towards a “silent exit”.
The removal of the article drew sharp criticism from political figures, activists, and rights groups. The Canadian chapter of former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf said the takedown validated the article’s message, stating that forced patriotism no longer works on a generation that sees corruption and inequality clearly.
Please read this brilliant article by Zorain Nizamani, a PhD student at the University of Arkansas, in which he bluntly tells Pakistan’s ruling elite that Gen Z is no longer falling for their attempts to manipulate and control narratives.
Not surprisingly, this article is no… pic.twitter.com/EV7nFWeQyt
— Mehlaqa Samdani (@MehlaqaCAPJ) January 1, 2026
Activist Mehlaqa Samdani described the article’s disappearance as a real-life example of the censorship it criticised, while lawyer Abdul Moiz Jafferi called it a heartfelt reflection of young Pakistanis’ frustrations. Former federal minister Moonis Elahi referred to the piece as a “reality check” for policymakers.
Pakistan’s Human Rights Council also condemned the removal, calling it a violation of constitutional rights and journalistic freedom, and warning of increasing restrictions on free expression in the country.
The incident has reignited broader conversations about censorship, civil liberties, and the widening gap between Pakistan’s ruling establishment and its younger generation.
