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Shafqat Mahmood just blocked Jibran Nasir on Twitter for talking about cancelling exams

Shafqat Mahmood just blocked Jibran Nasir on Twitter for talking about cancelling exams

He had said earlier that "nobodies" were jumping into the situation for "cheap publicity".
Updated 30 Apr, 2021

On opposite ends of the cancel exams debate, activist Jibran Nasir and Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood have been engaged in a social media war against one another with the end result of Mahmood blocking Nasir on Twitter.

Mahmood, who had probably had enough of Nasir calling him out, decided it was time to block him. However, the news didn't sit well with the activist who announced that despite making no personal remarks, the minister chose to block him out for the legitimate concerns he was raising.

"Seems like Shafqat Mahmood wants to live in his bubble where he is always right and doesn't want anyone bursting it with truth about his performance. I didn't abuse or made any personal remark, he blocked me for only raising students concerns and demanding resignation," he posted.

The background

Amid a surge in coronavirus cases and deaths, Mahmood announced on April 27 that O and A level exams had been postponed till Oct-Nov with the only exception being A2 students "who have a compulsion to take [the] exam now".

However, when the exams went ahead on Monday several videos emerged on social media showing a large number of parents gathered outside exam centres and a large number of students inside examination halls and it was concluded that few SOPs were being followed and student lives were in danger.

As petitions were filed against the government for approving in person exams it was revealed that Pakistani students no longer had the option of switching to school assessed grades because unlike the rest of the world, Pakistan waited to postpone the exams after they had already begun.

The mess

In a series of tweets, Nasir called out the minister for his "incompetence", determined to safeguard the lives of thousands of students.

He called Mahmood "careless" and said he was causing students stress due to his "shortsighted ill-informed policies."

He also pointed out how schools in Pakistan were stepping up to do the job the education minister should have done a while ago, calling it "filling shoes of the government as the minister remains absent."

Nasir reminded students how they weren't given the option to get school assessed grades for their Cambridge examinations since Mahmood, despite been given a choice by the British Council, refused to cancel examinations like other countries did, putting students under unnecessary pressure.

He then made sure to reiterate that the burden of fighting for these school assessed grades wasn't on the schools, but on the minister himself, who "ran away from the pressure by giving a half baked solution which has created this mess."

In the midst of all this, Mahmood had said that activists were jumping in on the cause for "cheap publicity," calling the pictures of cramped examination halls fake.

"Some nobodies who have jumped into this situation for cheap publicity are going so far as to distribute fake pictures of examination halls. Their attempt to spread confusion has failed and will continue to fail because they are not interested in students but self projection," he had said.

However, students then confirmed that the pictures were indeed a horrifying reality as they gave their examinations in terrible conditions.

The end result? Mahmood blocked Nasir on social media. While everyone has the right to cut off anyone who takes a toll on their mental health, I guess we now know the issue had become personal.

Comments

Khaled Apr 30, 2021 12:22pm
He should have blocked him much earlier. What business does he have with students examinations, except for personal publicity?
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tQ Apr 30, 2021 12:30pm
Let Education Minister do his work. Jibran Nasir do your work, if you have any! Everyone is rights activist but few know how to use it for "selfie projection".
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haris Apr 30, 2021 12:58pm
Whats wrong with the picture of examination hall? Did you see how students are Europe are seated in their classrooms?
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haris Apr 30, 2021 01:02pm
why are we discussing O and A levels exams as national issue? How many appears there in the country, less than 5% only. Also those in the West who in the future have to develop vaccines for new viruses have lost 1 precious year of their study but didn't complain, but here we are making "hulalla" for a loss of six months only. So pathetic and disrespectful as a nation.
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Hani_Layyah Apr 30, 2021 01:03pm
Such a rowdy and unprofessional attitude from the minister is highly regretting. .
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Amin Arab Apr 30, 2021 01:08pm
Jibran is useless twitter nazi. If he was in India his account would have been banned lol
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F N Apr 30, 2021 01:28pm
Is this the complete story?
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CringeCop Apr 30, 2021 01:31pm
Stop spinning fake narratives, there was nothing personal in this - Jibran Nasir is not worth the attention.
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Saima Jamil Apr 30, 2021 01:33pm
I think that O_level exams should be held while following the SOPs.
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Saima Jamil Apr 30, 2021 01:41pm
I think O_level exams should be conducted while following the SOPs.Look at the situation in the shops ,transport,nobody is following th SOPs. Very few people are wearing face masks or using hand sanitizer. So the statement "that Corona only exists in the examination halls is very true". Students should be given both options who want to sit for the exams should be allowed to give the exams and those who want to go for the teacher assesd grades can quit the exams.
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Asiya Malik Apr 30, 2021 01:55pm
I guess he (Mr mehmood)must blocked him much earlier..Mr Nasir was having a teasing attitude.....it's is just a personal publicity
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FB Apr 30, 2021 02:08pm
He has to prioritise 99% of students that are in Pakistani education system. Foreign system is not encouraged by GOP so shouldn’t be a priority. He should focus and be accountable for students in local streams and not the elites/privileged few. Parents should know better to abide by the SOPs, how’s that education minister’s responsibility?
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Samreen Apr 30, 2021 02:13pm
Cancellation of exams for fear of covid. Do what about the social gathering, birthday parties the so called flag bearers of cancel exams are enjoying. Students are now using it as a tool to not study and just get away with it. I had great respect for Jibran but his stupid activism has lost it all.
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Younus Malik Apr 30, 2021 02:14pm
Cancel all exams
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kamran Apr 30, 2021 02:38pm
who is he.
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Hassaan Anwar Apr 30, 2021 02:48pm
@haris Are you really comparing Europe to Pakistan. I was born and raised for half of my life in England and their situation is much better. The public is much more educated and they have much better sense on what to do. I just came from a mosque in Pakistan in which less than 1% of the people wore a mask. There is no comparison.
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Hassaan Anwar Apr 30, 2021 02:54pm
@Khaled If we are talking about merit, what does a cricketer have to do with politics. While IK is an excellent cricketer and hhasplayed a huge role in Pakistan cricket history, he is in no way qualified to run the country which is pretty apparent. I am certain the minister Shafqat Mahmood is realistically under qualified for his job. Both my parents and i have multiple uncles that are doctors. My father has daid that COVID is getting much worse and the death rate is sky rocketing. I am a student of Islamia College and i have proof to show that we CAN NOT give physical exams. Our rooms which already are crammed with 60 people, usually fill up so much that people stand in the room. Breathing becomes hard. And to top all of that off, almost everyone, including the teachers, don't wear a mask.
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Nationalist Apr 30, 2021 03:04pm
Jibran Nasir is an oppotunitist and is only misguiding an already doomed youth.
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Huma Apr 30, 2021 03:28pm
In Quetta colleges..no sops following..principles helding functions despite of many Covid positive reported in students and lecturers and these functions attending shamfully by education director..secretary even minister of education...thousand of students attending clases daily why you people not closing campuse specially colleges in Quetta and not taking action against direct..secretary ministers and principles of these colleges dont you have any interest to save youth of Quetta and balochistan from this virus only life of panjab students and teachers are worthy for u...so so sad even P.M came Quetta and didnt announce to shut down school colleges ...its hights of ignorance
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Parvez Apr 30, 2021 03:43pm
Jibran Nasir is a good man....but at times he goes too far . Simply shows immaturity which will improve with time....hopefully.
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Tariq Apr 30, 2021 03:49pm
I think people like NB become power broker when they came under lime light. How come few handful people came blackmail state and its people on policy.
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Ahmed Ahad Apr 30, 2021 03:51pm
Will jibran Nasir also condemn his wife Mansha pasha for attending social parties and violating SOPs. Sadly no. What a hypocrite.
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naz Apr 30, 2021 04:23pm
Jibran Nasir is a man looks busy does nothing.
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Ahmed Apr 30, 2021 04:28pm
People need to understand that they have an option to take a gap year or next cycle exams, if they are really concerned with corona. They also need to realize if they ever cancel exams and university would be crashed with over applicants next year and so. I don't agree with cancellation of exams. British Council is right and just need to enforce good SOP.
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BB Apr 30, 2021 04:31pm
A chance for some people to project themselves. This job should have been done by schools who charge huge fees for many many years, and in testing times push the students out on the roads to fend for themselves by hook or by crook.
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Ali Mehdi Apr 30, 2021 04:48pm
Education minister needs to educate himself on how the world has gone online. The classes n exams have all been held online for now over a year. Couldn’t he observe that it’s now the new normal to study n give exam online.
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TZaman Apr 30, 2021 05:19pm
The minister should resign forthwith. What he did was no less a disaster.
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Asd Apr 30, 2021 05:35pm
These buffoons think it's easy running a ministry in these critical times, especially for cash strapped Pakistan. From my point of view, SM did good to cancel out Jib N and the likes of him who have nothing to offer to Pakistan except their burger attitude.
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Love Apr 30, 2021 05:47pm
Stop working for money it only kills your spirit and soul, and destroys your relationships. Luke's-14 Forsake everything everyone and your life for Him Luke's-16 Work for Him not $, and He will give you & your family food and clothing if they follow too Matthew's-25 & Luke-12 and 6 Sell all and give to the poor asap and keep every giving in secret Mark's-16 & John's-17 Share the Truth to all working together in love also peace Revelation_13,14 Never take mark of the beast right hand or forehead only way to buy or sell ¤not a vaccine or a mask, but could be a microchip implant or some quantum technology such as implant or dot Revelation_17,18 USA is most likely the Babylon to be destroyed in 1 hour with fire
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CringeCop Apr 30, 2021 06:10pm
Are you ever going to post him and his wife socializing without any care for SOPs or is this just how you do things now - Take sides for hypocrites and people who are trashing the youths mind?
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Ali Mehdi Apr 30, 2021 06:35pm
He lacks shafqat
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Mariana Apr 30, 2021 06:55pm
@Khaled How ignorant you are. You don't even understand the issue & you are condemning Jibran Nasir. He is a lawyer you dimwit - he is representing the students legitimate cause because no one else was coming to their rescue from an incompetent Education Minister who can't even be bothered to read Cambridge guidelines is making pathetic decisions and ruining their academic careers, not to mention endangering their lives at the height of a deadly pandemic.
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Mariana Apr 30, 2021 07:00pm
@tQ The Education minister is a disgrace to Pakistan . He should be sacked immediately. He put the lives of thousand of Pakistani students in danger by forcing exams upon them against all medical guidelines to avoid large gatherings at all costs during a pandemic as is notorious superspreader. Did he think that students would be just airlifted and drop into those examination halls where SOPs were going to be applied or would they have to pass though crowds & queues to get in & out. How stupid can these ministers be? They live in their own protected bubble far removed from the ground realities. Also Jibran Nasir understands the Cambridge policy inside out but Shafqat Mahmood whose actual job it is has absolutely zero understanding of it. He's an insult to the name of education.
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Mariana Apr 30, 2021 07:17pm
@haris Another ignoramus on this issue ! This less than 5 % O and A levels students which you arrogantly dismiss are real people . They are real Pakistanis with hearts, lungs brains & lives which you think are worthless. They are tens of thousands of students that are the most educated in Pakistan. In the West they have NOT lost 1 year of study - their governments unlike Pakistan put students lives & health first & devised a system of rigorous school based assessments in which they had to show evidence of tests, assignments, projects in place of exams. But Pakistans government was empty handed & had done no preparation for the national board students to provide and alternative to exams so decided to take a short cut & insist on exams for everyone, least bothered about impact on students lives. NO students can't afford to lose a year in terms of fees, time & university scholarships all which they lose but other countries gain. Understand now? Its Shafqat Mahmood thats pathetic !
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Mariana Apr 30, 2021 07:31pm
@Ahmed If that is so why isn't British council enforcing SOP's as if it is their responsiblity in other countries like India, Bangladesh, Thailand , UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain , Saudia , UK etc? Why only in Pakistan ? Because they know there a greedy government ministers all happy to profit off lives of students by conducting exams and not care about putting them in danger of getting a deadly Covid infection. Next time think a little before you comment.
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Mariana Apr 30, 2021 07:37pm
@Asd Shafqat Mahmood is the one who did NOTHING for students other but put their lives in DANGER and LIED about Cambridge School assessed grades that the WHOLE REST OF THE WORLD is doing to PROTECT their students . (They don't compromise on standards ) All because of his TOTAL failure to provide a SAFE ALTERNATIVE to Inter/Fsc board exams for his own countries students when he had a whole year to prepare in case the Covid situation gets worse and the country has to go in lockdown. He has behaved completely irresponsibly and deserves to be sacked immediately.
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Tauqir Zafari Apr 30, 2021 11:36pm
Shafqat Mahmood has gone mad. He has made his at it's personal ego. He is not thinking from his brain or he doesn't have it. The whole world is affected with this virus and this man is not showing the wisdom cause he doesn't have it. He should go and sleep. You are just a goose .
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Tauqir Zafari Apr 30, 2021 11:39pm
Shafqat Mahmood is a fake guy. He has no sense of wisdom. He is playing with the health of our students. In this region all the counties have cancelled the exams. Why he didn't ? He is just a goose
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Mani Apr 30, 2021 11:42pm
Incompetent is the middle name of all our ministers. Real shabby performance as usual.
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Tasnim May 01, 2021 03:54am
This is the so called freedom of speech but here in Pakistan everyone can talk about everything. What is his credibility to talk about examination of to engage himself with student's affairs. Earlier Waqar Zaka and then Jibran Nasir. They should be blocked for advising the person who has to see all the dimensions before taking any decision.
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FB May 01, 2021 04:53am
@Hassaan Anwar - you can’t take the exam but you can go to the mosque where you know beforehand that no SOPs are being followed!! And then brought all that back home endangering them too! How is that being ‘educated’ and no, living half your life in the UK hasn’t really rubbed off on you.
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A Khan May 01, 2021 05:05am
Jibran Nasir, please get a real job!
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FB May 01, 2021 05:05am
@Mariana - take SM to task on Pakistan’s education system, you have all the right. Bash him, smash him, whatever you like. But he’s not responsible for foreign based educational bodies. As a Pakistani I would like him to focus on local medium of education and not indulge in tittle tattle over elites’ education. So better take the exam, or get your kids take the exam. Private candidates would have the luxury of having teacher assessed grades, so is it ok if they lose a year?
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Khan ji May 01, 2021 06:02am
Total incompetence of PTI govt as a whole and Edu Min in particular. Decision making (belated and substandard) is one aspect that will hurt PTI strongly in the next elections.
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Noorulain Rasheed May 01, 2021 08:03am
Cancellation of exam is not a solution. Students are students after all they will demand thoughtlessly. Novel covid is now a part and parcel of life, states cannot shut down every sector because of disease. Or you will die one day uneducated and hungry.
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amin khan May 01, 2021 09:04am
The Honourable Minister of Education is requested to resign. He has miserably failed on many similar issues.
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Mrs kamran afzal May 01, 2021 10:51am
Why these so called activists n actors are only behind education why not their friends parties n gathering occuring rapidly, pathetic
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Zain May 01, 2021 05:08pm
Cancel exam
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Zain May 01, 2021 05:09pm
No exam to corona pendmic
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Tahir Iqbal May 01, 2021 06:41pm
Shafqat mahmood has no right to remain stick with education ministry bcz he is unaware of groud realities of examination centers. In examination centers students are far apart from one another. compare them with the situations in bazars and religious gathetings. As schools are closed so in april and may they can conduct papers easily.
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Fasttrack2 May 01, 2021 07:31pm
Everyone here seems to act like they know it all. First of all the fees we paid for exams are getting refunded and our schools aren't going to be charging a different fees, those who have studied their A/O levels have paid their fees completely and do not need any more tutoring all they need to do now is study for the November exams by themselves which is no different to if we gave exams in may. Secondly, the school assessed grades isn't a great and reliable option. Incase you don't know which no one does over here the SAG's would be dependent on many things that includes achievements, class works, tests and time given to studies by a student. Now most people especially those in twitter barely have any achievments nor go to school on a daily basis even when physical school was on, hence SAG's were one of the worst options. However I do agree that shafqat mehmood shouldn't have cancelled exams on such a short notice.
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Fasttrack2 May 01, 2021 07:32pm
Shafqat mehmood only cancelled exams because of the poor management of SOPs outside the exam halls however inside the examination halls SOPs were followed
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Naeem May 02, 2021 05:08am
This minister should be resigned or be removed for sinking student's preparation for the exams...
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Arij Khan May 03, 2021 08:58am
So much for PTI’s commitment to ‘Freedom of expression’.
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