The Incident and Social Media Backlash
During a Youth Festival held on February 12, 2026, at Bacha Khan University in Charsadda, a third-year pharmacy student named Jibran Riaz performed the Indian national anthem, “Jana Gana Mana,” as part of a musical segment. Joined by fourth-year student Syed Riaz Ahmed, the performance was captured on video and quickly went viral across social media platforms. The footage provoked an immediate reaction from hardline elements on campus, who reportedly confronted Jibran Riaz and forced him to chant pro-military slogans on camera to prove his loyalty.
University Disciplinary Action
Following the viral video, the university administration took swift and severe disciplinary action by expelling four students: Jibran Riaz, Syed Riaz Ahmed, Bashir Khan, and Murad Khan. The administration justified the expulsion by alleging that the students violated campus and hostel regulations by raising “anti-state” slogans. Officials further claimed that performing the Indian national anthem was a provocative act intended to create unrest and undermine the national unity of Pakistan, leading to their immediate removal from the institution.
Controversy Over Governance and Free Speech
The expulsions have highlighted a stark contrast in the provincial governance of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Critics point out that just nine days prior, a large-scale roadshow for Jaish-e-Mohammed commander Omar Sheikh was held in the same city with full police security, despite the group’s extremist rhetoric. The fact that extremist gatherings are permitted while students face academic ruin for a cultural performance has raised serious questions about the selective approach to law and order under the current administration, fueling a wider debate on the shrinking space for academic freedom in the country.
