'It Is Over': The Viral Gen Z Manifesto Pakistan's Establishment Couldn't Silence
Pakistan’s younger generation may be quietly rebelling, but not through protests or violence. The flashpoint is a deleted op-ed by Zorain Nizamani , a Pakistani PhD student in the United States, that voiced the frustrations of Gen Z and Gen Alpha against the country’s ruling elites.
The article, titled “It Is Over”, was published in a leading Pakistani daily on 1 January but was taken down within hours, allegedly under pressure from the military. The swift removal sparked widespread outrage online, turning Nizamani into a symbol of resistance. Screenshots of the article went viral, with many accusing the state of censorship and praising the young academic for speaking truth to power.
In the op-ed, Nizamani, who is pursuing a PhD in Criminology at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, highlighted that Pakistan’s older leadership has lost influence over its youth. “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. No matter how many talks and seminars you arrange in schools and colleges, it isn’t working,” he wrote.
He emphasised that patriotism cannot be forced through speeches or slogans. It grows naturally when citizens are provided with equal opportunities, reliable infrastructure, functional systems, and guaranteed rights. “When you provide your people with basic necessities and ensure people get their rights, you won’t have to go to schools and colleges to tell students that they are supposed to love their country; they already will nonetheless,” Nizamani added.
The article also focused on the role of technology and education in shaping young minds. Gen Z and Gen Alpha are aware of political realities and increasingly resistant to propaganda. “Young minds, see right through it. They might be a little too scared to speak their minds because they prefer breathing,” he wrote.
The op-ed’s removal provoked backlash from Pakistan’s political and media circles. Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said the takedown “confirms its truth. Gen Z sees corruption, inequality, and hypocrisy clearly. Old control methods are dead.” Activists, lawyers, and former ministers echoed the sentiment, calling it a “reality check” and condemning censorship.
The Human Rights Council of Pakistan criticised the removal, calling it “a lamentable example of the increasing curbs on freedom of expression . It is a direct violation of citizens’ constitutional rights and journalistic freedom.”
As the article continues to circulate online, it has become a rallying point for Pakistan’s youth, highlighting the growing disconnect between the country’s older rulers and its younger, increasingly aware generation.
The article, titled “It Is Over”, was published in a leading Pakistani daily on 1 January but was taken down within hours, allegedly under pressure from the military. The swift removal sparked widespread outrage online, turning Nizamani into a symbol of resistance. Screenshots of the article went viral, with many accusing the state of censorship and praising the young academic for speaking truth to power.
In the op-ed, Nizamani, who is pursuing a PhD in Criminology at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, highlighted that Pakistan’s older leadership has lost influence over its youth. “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. No matter how many talks and seminars you arrange in schools and colleges, it isn’t working,” he wrote.
He emphasised that patriotism cannot be forced through speeches or slogans. It grows naturally when citizens are provided with equal opportunities, reliable infrastructure, functional systems, and guaranteed rights. “When you provide your people with basic necessities and ensure people get their rights, you won’t have to go to schools and colleges to tell students that they are supposed to love their country; they already will nonetheless,” Nizamani added.
The article also focused on the role of technology and education in shaping young minds. Gen Z and Gen Alpha are aware of political realities and increasingly resistant to propaganda. “Young minds, see right through it. They might be a little too scared to speak their minds because they prefer breathing,” he wrote.
The op-ed’s removal provoked backlash from Pakistan’s political and media circles. Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said the takedown “confirms its truth. Gen Z sees corruption, inequality, and hypocrisy clearly. Old control methods are dead.” Activists, lawyers, and former ministers echoed the sentiment, calling it a “reality check” and condemning censorship.
The Human Rights Council of Pakistan criticised the removal, calling it “a lamentable example of the increasing curbs on freedom of expression . It is a direct violation of citizens’ constitutional rights and journalistic freedom.”
As the article continues to circulate online, it has become a rallying point for Pakistan’s youth, highlighting the growing disconnect between the country’s older rulers and its younger, increasingly aware generation.
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