Event Summary
On 1 January 2026, Pakistani scholar Zorain Nizamani, a PhD student in Criminology in the United States, published an opinion article titled “It Is Over” in The Express Tribune. The piece discussed the widening disconnect between Pakistan’s power structures and the country’s younger generations, arguing that Gen Z and Gen Alpha are no longer influenced by traditional state-driven narratives. He highlighted issues of youth disillusionment, declining trust in institutions, and the growing trend of young Pakistanis feeling compelled to leave the country for better opportunities.
Within hours of publication, the article was removed from the newspaper’s website without explanation. The sudden takedown triggered widespread public attention, with screenshots of the article circulating rapidly across social media platforms. Many readers, journalists, academics, and civil society voices interpreted the removal as an act of censorship, which inadvertently amplified the article’s impact and visibility.
The incident has since become a significant point of discussion regarding freedom of expression, media independence, generational perspectives, and the shrinking civic space in Pakistan. Over the past several years, journalists and opinion writers have reported heightened scrutiny over political commentary, especially when it touches on governance, civil military relations, youth disenchantment, or migration trends. The swift removal of the op-ed has created a chilling effect among writers, academics, and journalists, who may now feel more cautious about discussing governance, institutional narratives, or youth disillusionment. It has also widened public distrust in traditional media platforms and pushed more discourse onto social media, where discussions are less regulated but more polarized.