Pakistanis demand government to arrest cleric for releasing Kalam against "girls' education"

A controversial figure Hasan Iqbal Chishti, who often releases Kalams targetting working women in the society, came up with the new recitation against girls' education.

In the video, Chishti urged parents to withdraw their daughters from schools, alleging that "they go to the educational institutes to dance rather than study". 

He also used abusive language against girls in his Kalam and advised parents to confine their daughters to their homes. 

انہیں لڑکیاں سکول میں ڈاانس "daanice" کرتی نظر آ گئی ہیں مدرسوں میں چھوٹے بچوں کا ریپ نظر نہیں آتا یا پھر وہ ان کے لیے جائز اور حلال ہے؟؟ pic.twitter.com/Cb5Wdj9KyW

— Sanam Jamali🇵🇰 (@sana_J2) June 23, 2024

اپنی بچیوں کو گھروں میں سنبھال کر رکھیں، باہر یہ حیوان پھر رہے ہیں!! pic.twitter.com/9hMAfJMEoV

— Ayesha Ali Bhutta (@ayeshabhutta01) June 23, 2024

As the video went viral on social media, the citizens demanded the government to arrest Chishti for releasing Kalam against "girls' eductaion".

They also termed the cleric a "soft-Taliban", who always targeted women in his Kalams.

Citizens and educationists have condemned Chishti's actions, saying that they perpetuate harmful gender stereotypes and marginalise girls in a society where they already face barriers to education.

Talking to Dialogue Pakistan, a citizen named Muhammad Arif said that the cleric always targets women "just to get views and likes on his video". 

"Chishti's Kalams are a threat to our progress as a society. He must be held accountable for his harmful rhetoric," renowned educationist, Dr Yamin Bocha, said.

According to a 2021 report by Opportunity EduFinance, over 50% girls in Pakistan do not attend school due to societal pressure and lack of access to education.