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Pakistani Twitter users question their social standing after Shehzad Ghias, Muzamil Hasan discuss being middle class

Pakistani Twitter users question their social standing after Shehzad Ghias, Muzamil Hasan discuss being middle class

The content creators addressed their elite "criticism", stirring up the virtual world with what they think is categorised as middle class.
Updated 01 Dec, 2022

Pakistan Twitter has erupted into a whole new debate about what it means to be middle class following Muzamil Hasan’s appearance on Shehzad Ghias’ podcast The Pakistan Experience. In a section labelled “Personal criticisms addressed”, they discussed how not-so-elite they are or have been growing up. The inclusion of Beaconhouse School System, LUMS, a Corolla and vacationing in the US has prompted netizens to fire back with a plethora of memes.

On Wednesday, the comedian shared a clip from his podcast with Hasan and asked, “Is Syed Muzamil Hasan Zaidi elite?” In it, Ghias brought up Hasan’s comment about the former needing to “step out of his elite bubble”. The duo then proceeded to argue, each trying to defend himself against the “elite” classification. The comedian said though he lives in an “elite location”, his home and studio are relatively humble.

Hasan said as a result of upward social mobility, he is in a better position now but that he grew up middle class — wore hand-me-downs and drove the same car for 18 years. Then followed Ghias’ digs at Hasan for his educational background, a Corolla picking him up from school and his vacations abroad.

The clip has mostly tickled netizens’ funny bones as they question their own social standing after the well off content creators categorised themselves in the middle class.

Some Twitter users tried to keep them in check, reminding them that the “real middle class” cannot afford any of this. One user said it is not smart for the standard of comparison to be with Pakistani billionaire, businessman Mian Muhammad Mansha.

While another simply asked for them to hand over their wealth to him.

They addressed the middle class “fetish” and branded the duo as “burgers”.

Memes were bound to follow.

Who do you think classifies as middle class?

Comments

M. Saeed Dec 01, 2022 02:29pm
If MQM claims to be a middle classed political party, with all top 25 of it's leaders being listed trillionaires, any definition of middle class is correct!
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M. Emad Dec 01, 2022 02:53pm
Comedian Pakistani.
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Salman Dec 01, 2022 03:29pm
Muzammil Hasan might not be middle class, but he does run Pakistan's best YouTube channel (or at least Top 5), which is a big source of knowledge. So while you point out a flaw, please do acknowledge his great work in the middle of an ocean of mediocre content.
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Khalid Kundi Dec 01, 2022 03:52pm
People do tend to judge pretty quick. Going to the US in teenage years doesn't make someone elite. The fact that middle class is a very broad term, should be taken into account. I am sitting in the UK and able to provide better for my children today doesn't make my children elite.
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Ahmed Dec 01, 2022 04:35pm
Pakistani people need to do some introspection. How can you waste hours of your day listening to Shahzad. The guy literally has nothing to show for his life. Yet he is famous in Pakistan. He has nothing to say about anything. Yet he is considered educated and smart by some. We aren't progressing ever.
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John Malik Dec 01, 2022 04:53pm
By definition only 1% of the population is upper-crust. Roughly 50% classified as middle-income or middle class, the remainder is working poor or working class. Middle class is a pretty big on spectrum, from lower middle income to upper middle income. The inter class mobility is pretty difficult in developing countries. Status based classifications are a colonial leftover. Now some sociologists classify it as income based as opposed to status.
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Ten Jee Dec 01, 2022 04:58pm
The working class aspire to be middle class. The middle class claim to be from/of the working class to maintain a sense of personal integrity and like to claim to have 'achieved' through 'hard work'. The middle to upper class Pakistani youth is doomed to fall between 2 stools - not fully able to jettison ALL Pakistani/Islamic values to gain approval/acceptance from their white/western peers, too filled with contempt for all things Pakistani/Islamic to gain acceptance among the masses here.
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Pro West Dec 01, 2022 05:09pm
The middle class in the west is based mainly on profession and income/wealth. Mobility up the classes can be gained via education leading to better jobs, but there is still a class divide between 'old' money and the rets. It seems in Pakistan it is based on lifestyle and attitudes hewn from the need to conform to a pseudo-westernised quasi-liberal mock-intellectualistic pretence, but hiding a deep insecurity wanting approval from their colonial masters. The kids at university in Pakistan now even conform to trendy atheism to fit in with the 'cool kids'. What a thoroughly unimpressive and reductive youth our middle class parents have produced, bereft of confidence and wisdom.
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Asif Usman Dec 01, 2022 05:42pm
If all the Non Muslims are in Muslim League, and all the Looters Dacoits are in People's Party then I am sure there is No Class difference.
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Hamid Dec 01, 2022 05:44pm
Their middle class definition needs definition
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Hamid Dec 01, 2022 05:44pm
Funny guys lying a lot
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Hamid Dec 01, 2022 05:45pm
Visiting US as a 9th grader is middle class?
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Amarnath Dec 01, 2022 06:04pm
That was unintentional comedy
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Ashley Dec 01, 2022 06:13pm
Really, such a good web page. www
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Zulfiqar Dec 01, 2022 06:46pm
There is no middle class in Pakistan. Elite and poor are the only two social divisions left.
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asma Dec 01, 2022 06:57pm
@M. Saeed MQM leaders are multi billionaires
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Hanif Dec 01, 2022 07:32pm
why they are insisting in claiming to be not financially strong when growing up, everyone should be thankful of what they have this discussion is useless. Thankful to lord and to parents of they have provided. childish discussion
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FAZ Dec 01, 2022 07:36pm
We had a home, we ate three times a day (cant say about mum and dad). Upon realizing in secondary school age i came to know that buying channi from a thailay wala was a luxury..
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Ibad Dec 01, 2022 09:05pm
Income inequality is so great that even obviously rich guys think they are middle class because the people above them are at such an unattainable level.
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Zulfiqar Dec 02, 2022 01:07am
@Khalid Kundi you might be middle class or lower or upper middle class in UK , but in Pak you are already upper class
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Salman Haider Dec 02, 2022 08:25am
Getting admission in US for undergrad program. Taking just $3000 to start a new life. Paying fees in 4 instalments every semester. Working 80 hours a week at a pizza store to pay for college. Buying 1st car for $1500. Working 100 plus hours per week in summer to travel for holidays within US. No Grant, no scholarship, no loan, no financial aid. Perks of being an international student and a middle classia. Yes a middle classia can live a good life in USA and still be a middle classia.
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Rafi Dec 02, 2022 08:30am
Middle class are people who have to keep working till they drop dead at 65 !!
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Ik Dec 02, 2022 09:30am
Why is everyone twisting Muzzamil’s statements, if your brother invites you to U.S after he gets a job and scholarship there after so much struggle, and your sister studies in LUMS on NOP, will that snatches the status of middle class from you just over night? It’s typical of Pakistani media twisting things.
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imran Dec 02, 2022 10:03am
We are lowest calss
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Philosopher (From Japan) Dec 02, 2022 10:47am
Why are they obssessed with middle class?
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Rafi Dec 02, 2022 11:16am
In India even an office peon owns a Corolla or a similar car !!
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