Gowning Ceremony Held for Sociology PhD Graduate Ayesha Syed

A gowning ceremony was held for Ayesha Syed, our PhD graduate of the Department of Sociology, on 7 October 2026. The ceremony was held with the participation of our graduate and faculty.

Ayesha Syed successfully defended her doctoral dissertation, “(De)Constructing Pakistaniyat: A Saga of Dissemination of Master and Counter Narratives,” on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, under the supervision of Professor Ramazan Aras, earning her doctoral degree.

Written from a semi-autoethnographic perspective, the dissertation examines debates surrounding national identity in Pakistan since its founding, focusing on the interplay between dominant narratives and counter-narratives. It compares state-produced narratives of “Pakistaniyat” during the regimes of Zia-ul-Haq and Pervez Musharraf, both characterized by praetorian rule, with counter-narratives articulated through resistance poetry and protest movements during the same periods.

By examining symbols, cultural practices, processes of idolization, and othering, the dissertation analyzes the constitutive elements of national consciousness. It seeks to make non-hegemonic voices more visible and contribute to a more inclusive and representative parallel social history.

We congratulate Ayesha Syed on this significant academic achievement and wish her every success in her future endeavours.