The visit of Malala Yousafzai back to her homeland was bound to get controversial. If she stays in the UK, they want her to come back. If she visits Pakistan, they want her to go back. Her critics seem to never be satisfied.

The aspect that pinches her detractors the most is Malala trying to highlight the problems in Pakistan that need to be fixed, particularly those of gender parity in terms of education

Even if Malala herself stops pointing this out, there are several reports verifying the same.

The President of All Pakistan Private Schools Association Kashif Mirza instructed all private schools to observe “I am not Malala” Day today, March 30

This is practical enforcement of one’s own belief, which necessarily should not even be brought up in schools. The teachers have been asked to wear black bands on their arms to show protest and at the same time, lectures will be delivered to students explaining the so called “anti Pakistan” narrative that Ms. Yousafzai’s book entails.

Kashif Mirza is known for his anti-Malala stance as well. He wrote a book in response to Malala’s own book, called “I am not Malala. I am Muslim. I am Pakistani.”

Talking to a media outlet, Kashif Mirza said, “Pakistan is her home and if she has come home we welcome her, but we think that she has come as part of international agenda to malign Pakistan and we strongly condemn that.”

The problem however is that this association represents over 200,000 private schools in Pakistan

If the opinion of one individual will be propagated in the schools, it takes away the entire purpose of educating our children. The purpose of an education is to be exposed to all kinds of opinions and then decide on our own which one aligns with our inherent beliefs.

These lectures against Malala on such impressionable minds are bound to make a long lasting opinion, which they might not even cross check because questioning your instructors is not something Pakistani schools are known to encourage.

We have already witnessed a history of hatred against individuals and the results such actions produce

If our schools are also going to be a part of this hate-speech, then their autonomy should be questioned. At the same time, the world is witnessing our treatment of Malala. She is one person who stands up against extremism and for the rights of women’s education.

https://twitter.com/rabiaharoon9/status/979356181360709632

Many people are registering their protests against such a day, especially being observed in school

Let us know what you think about celebrating a day like this?

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