“You hardly see a normal woman in classes anymore. Almost all are burqa and hijab-clad. We rarely see them asking any question in class because they don’t have any confidence at all,” he had said in a TV an interview on Tuesday on Gharidah Farooqi’s show.

Twitter erupted with a range of reactions mostly criticising Dr Hoodbhoy for his remarks.

Many thought the comment was in poor taste.

And that choice of wearing hijab has nothing to do with how women perform in classrooms or the workplace.

A view also came up that the number of hijab-clad women had increased as more women from middle and lower classes were enrolling in universities.

Some users criticised Dr Hoodbhoy for his one-sided views despite teaching at university level for decades.

Women shared their personal experience as well.

A Twitter user compared his hostility towards hijab to mullahs’ hostility towards jeans.

While one user likened him to the Left’s Khalil-ur-Rehman.

Another referred to a number of successful ladies of Pakistan.

A twitter Twitter user said the debate illustrated how a major section of society is still reluctant to accept diversity.