An embarrassing flurry of pointed questions from students was directed at Interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Monday as he struggled to address the unanticipated situation.
Though it was supposed to be an opportunity for free discussion, the event immediately devolved into a tough grilling as students repeatedly asked him critical questions. One girl even asked, "Why did you feel the need to come and address amid the declining economy?"
Speaking to the students at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Kakar urged them to fearlessly explore different career paths without worrying about making mistakes. This lesson was quickly reinforced when the students did not hesitate to bring up sensitive subjects, which put him in a difficult position as he searched for satisfactory answers.
The premier stated that "Pakistan's democracy was in the transitional period" in what analysts and social media users referred to as a "feeble explanation" for the results of the election, which were infamously rife with irregularities.
Then, he made reference to the contentious Senate elections of 2021, where seven votes that appeared to be cast in favor of the joint candidate of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), Yousuf Raza Gilani, were reportedly rejected. He made the point that PTI did not adopt a pro-democratic stance until after Imran Khan was ousted from office.
"Ignore who did it [the Senate poll results]; we all know who did it. I was a part of it too. Pakistan's democracy was not as established as that of a European country where a democratic system had taken root."
The prime minister stated that clear guidelines should be established independent of political concerns in order to achieve their goal.
Some students also expressed their displeasure with PM Kakar's tardiness, stating it demonstrated his disrespect for information and disregard for students' time.
While the premier appeared to maintain composure, others in the widely shared video of the interaction can be heard cheering their colleagues for bravely asking the leader difficult questions.
Viral videos of the event began to circulate on social media platforms shortly after the encounter, putting the young brains of LUMS in the public eye and filling 'X' and other websites.