Dawn Images

Waqar Zaka has been 'championing' Pakistani students' cause of cancelling exams and has now shifted his focus from threats to name calling.

Emboldened by cheering teenagers and granted opportunity by the loud cause, Zaka's target is Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood. The minister blocked Jibran Nasir recently, one would assume Zaka is next on the list.

Having previously threatened Mahmood with a "you will regret it" earlier, Zaka has now ventured to calling him a "lasora". A lasora is a plant, called cordia myxa in English, and you've probably seen it as pickle on the desi dinner table.

Mahmood has been subjected to criticism and disrespect on the internet recently and has become the target of angsty teenagers. Celebrities have told students to stop with the disrespect and curses, but that might be a tall order when they see their ringleader leading the charge. They're children but Waqar Zaka is no child and is fully aware of what he's doing. He's not blinded by worry for his future nor is he stressed about exams.

The kids on the internet saw no problem with what Zaka said, they saw it as an adult on the streets of the internet and otherwise standing in their support. Most Pakistani students don't see this too often, so they welcomed it.

What he's saying may seem thuggish and rather crass, but it strikes a chord with the youth, who often feel disenfranchised and ignored. The nation's students view themselves as politically weak, as a group that no one stands with, who aren't taken seriously, who are on their own and will be ignored unless they erupt loudly and violently.

This is a man who does not see shame in what he's saying because he's not the one who started it. The country's students were already hurling abuses and insults at the minister, and Zaka only took their language and broadcasted it to his significant following.

But being a public figure doesn't mean you pander to your audience. Sometimes, it means showing your young followers and fans how to deal with people and situations in a civilised way. By all means, file all the court cases you want, but don't resort to insults. There are better ways to handle this situation.