Shireen Mazari who is a member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf and the recently appointed Federal Minister for Human Rights is often under fire for her daughter’s tweets. Iman Mazari, her daughter has been very openly vocal about her disagreement with her mother. Iman is not a supporter of PTI and not a fan of the Pakistan army. Iman has often taken to her various social media accounts to voice her opinion. However, it is often followed by a disclaimer that they do not reflect her mother’s point of view and have not impacted her relationship with her mother either.
However, on September 23rd, Iman posted a screenshot of her conversation with her mother.
The screenshot showed Shireen badgering her daughter to not voice her sentiments towards the army on social media and to “stop embarrassing” her mother “again.” Iman had vocalized her anger towards DG ISPR and called them an embarrassment for the state. This image stirred quite the debate on Twitter as Iman’s followers believed that this may be taking the disagreement one step too far. Given Shireen’s status in the Pakistani government, sharing a screenshot of her opinion without her consent can become quite problematic.
After tweeting the image, Iman Mazari disappeared from social media the same night. This action stirred further debate leaving everyone confused. Several people believed that the deactivation may have been the result of disruption and threats received by her screenshot forcing Iman to voluntarily leave. While others believed it was in response to the reports sent against her account.
Even in the past when Iman has voiced her opinions, people have reacted by treating Shireen Mazari in a similar manner. Shireen has often been at the receiving even of the brunt each time Iman has voiced a conflicting opinion on her social media.
It is inconceivable to so many Pakistanis that a young woman has completely different opinions than her mother. Equally inconceivable to them is the fact that parents cannot control their children forever. It doesn’t make me angry anymore: I feel pity for such a sad mindset. — ایمان زینب (@ImaanZHazir) September 23, 2018
Before further speculation ensued, Iman announced her return on Twitter on September 24th. She tweeted:
After things spiralled out of control yesterday, I decided to take a step back to collect my thoughts. One cannot even begin to explain the effect of these pressure tactics on one’s nerves (no matter how strong we believe ourselves to be). My intention is never to hurt. (1) — ایمان زینب (@ImaanZHazir) September 24, 2018
Ultimately, the right to freedom of expression is my fundamental human right and I will continue to exercise it. It is unfortunate that my mother is attacked over my opinions but I refuse to give into this emotional blackmailing by those who try to tear families apart. (2) — ایمان زینب (@ImaanZHazir) September 24, 2018
In the tweets she talks about the detrimental impact people’s comments can have on one’s mind and that she felt she needed to take a bird’s eye view and rationally review her situation. Nonetheless, she made it clear to all her followers that freedom of speech is a fundamental right and this debacle in no way controls her future opinions. She expressed her disappointment that despite people disapproving of her opinions, it has always been her mother who is targeted in response. Initially, Shireen Mazari had taken to Twitter to claim that she did not hold opinions like those of her daughter and that Iman be treated as an independent adult.
However, following Iman’s disappearance, the federal minister also took to Twitter stating that Iman’s disappearance was her own choice and not instigated by her mother.
She chose to do so temporarily on her own so I have no doubt she will be back on twitter very soon! Frankly there was no external pressure – altho that would resonate in some quarters! Imaan would not yield to such pressure I can assure u! https://t.co/wXyB8Id5Kl — Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) September 24, 2018
It is imperative for us as a population to understand that a daughter’s opinions do not reflect her mother’s point of view. Showing intolerance towards the opinions of an adult and holding someone else responsible for it is exactly what drives states to take emotional and crass decisions and lose valuable resources in the process.