Twitterati Storm Hits LUMS Again

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By Staff Reporter

#LUMS, remained Friday’s top trend on twitter after a student shared his experience of bullying by his peers, and staff of Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) based on his social class highlighting how class difference is dividing the society.
Muhammad Umar Habib, a former student of LUMS, who was admitted to the varsity in LUMS National Outreach Programme (NOP) shared his ordeal at the university where he shared how he was treated with contempt because of his rural background. He began with his first experience on the very first day at LUMS.

Being an NOP at LUMS wasn't that easy.

I was told by warden on my very first day at LUMS that I deserve to live in a "Jhuggi" (hut). 1/6

— Umar Habib (@umerhabeeb) December 12, 2019

He also narrated how other students were treated based on their social class at the university and how it affected them.
Many social media users came out in support of the student and called out LUMS for the discrimination happening at their campus.
One user wrote:
https://twitter.com/aishaismad/status/1205398152288886784
Another user reminded him about the society’s responsibility to its youth

You are a brave & brilliant young man. You faced these difficulties with resilience & came out successful. Wish you God speed.
And, NOP scholarship wasn’t a favour to U. You earned your place on merit & it’s Society’s obligation to provide opportunities to brilliant youth like u

— Musadaq Zulqarnain (@MusadaqZ) December 13, 2019

One user pointed out the university’s responsibility to not disclose which students were studying there on NOP.

On first instance, why even LUMS administration has to disclose your NOP status? Aren’t they supposed to do this in discrete manner to provide equal access to all students to their program?

— Amigo_de_todos (@AudiA3_1800) December 13, 2019

The lack of diversity at campuses in universities was also pointed out and why it was needed in Pakistan.

NOP is a good step of LUMS. But our universities need to focus on diversity and inclusion training of faculty/staff/students. It is a continuous effort.

— Naveed Iftikhar (@navift) December 13, 2019

A LUMS teacher also applauded the former student of the varsity and highlighted the need for the university administration to take the matter seriously.

Classism runs deep in elite spaces in Pakistan, & LUMS is no exception. Thanks for being brave enough to write this & sorry you faced so much discrimination. Hope the institution takes such criticisms seriously & takes measures to deal with this endemic problem.

— Nida Kirmani (@NidaKirmani) December 13, 2019

Journalist Umar Cheema said that he was proud of his roots and being a “paindoo”

Thread on discrimination at LUMS against "paindoo" students. The difference b/w cities and villages is of opportunities, not that folks grown up in rural areas are less talented. I'm a proud paindoo. https://t.co/dIjs3jbaEi

— Umar Cheema (@UmarCheema1) December 13, 2019

Nuzhat Siddiqi also pointed out the responsibility of the LUMS administration and how it needed to be taken seriously

This is not an isolated case. And it is a sad state of affairs. LUMS may be doing a good thing through this program, but the people incharge also need to create an environment and lay down rules in which NOP awardee is not seen as a "charity" case. Because they still have merit. https://t.co/GxzmZ7QlGp

— Containeristan (@guldaar) December 13, 2019

Bullying in Pakistan is not talked about, especially at educational institutions where it is an increasing phenomenon.