ID :
175675
Fri, 04/15/2011 - 16:37
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/175675
The shortlink copeid
Political interference, violence hinder revival of Pakistani students’ unions
Karachi, April 15, 2011 (PPI ): Revival of the students’ unions and their early elections in colleges and universities is direly needed for giving Pakistani educational institutes a democratic and tolerant culture and also honing up the leadership skills of students; however, deep-rooted political interference into affairs of students’ unions and dreaded trend of violence are major hindrances in way of early revival of these unions in country, observed students’ leaders, teachers and faculty members.
They said all the stakeholders including students, teachers, heads of educational institutions and education department must take sincere and serious efforts for holding elections of students’ unions so that this neglected sector could thrive again to give Pakistan a credible leadership in the days to come.
Nazim Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) Karachi University chapter Abdul Muqtadir Ghazi said in Pakistan students’ unions were victimized by a dictator. He said these unions were banned after blaming that they were responsible for violence and disturbance at campuses. “However, whole nation witnessed that the violence and bloodshed at campuses doubled and tripled after these unions were banned.”
He said the campus violence is the direct result of lack of good student leadership. He said thus the ban or curbs on students’ unions are furthering the campus violence rather curtailing it. Quoting the figures, he said during 37 years when student unions had been active in Pakistan only 15 people lost lives in incidents of campus violence; however, after their banning some 250 people have died in such violence.
He said many students are unable to discriminate between a students’ union and students’ organization. Elaborating further he said a student union is the body of students elected by them to highlight their rights and to solve their problems; whereas a student organization is a body which is not directly elected by students themselves and rather they are controlled and run by outside elements. He said these students’ organizations are responsible for violence and disturbance at campus.
Ghazi demanded of the government to immediately restore students’ unions and ensure their free and fair elections at the earliest.
People’s Students’ Federation (PSF) President Basharatullah said that it was a pity that elections for students’ unions were yet to be held, though the prime minister had lifted ban on these unions some three years back. “Students are precious assets and future builders of Pakistan. They have to run this country, and students’ unions develop the required leadership qualities in them.”
He added that noted bureaucrats, democrats, politicians and leaders of today were students of yore days. He said our future leadership must emerge from students of this generation; however, they are still deprived of their right of union election. “No country could advance unless its students are given their rights,” asserted Basharat.
Maaz Shaikh, a student of BS 3rd year in KU Mass Communication department, said the administration of universities should hold elections of students’ union in their supervision. He said every Tom, Dick and Harry should not be allowed to contest these elections, but the students having character and commitment should be allowed to contest. He said he was at loss to understand why the government was reluctant to hold elections of student unions, when the ban had already been lifted.
Hafiz Muhammad Noman, MA Mass Communication (Previous) student, also reminded that when PPP took hold of the government three years back, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, in his address to the national assembly, had explained his governmental priorities and one of them was restoration of student unions. “Unfortunately, after three and half a year his government is yet to take any initiatives on this issue.”
The syndicate of Karachi University is the highest authority that consists of many members and one of them is supposed to be the president of students’ union. “The seat for the union president is always there in the syndicate; however, it remains vacant as no election of students’ union is held. He said the decisions taken in the syndicate lack proper mandate as the syndicate lack the important voice to defend interests of students.”
Other members gather, sit, make education policies and decisions and go without knowing the students’ needs and nobody raises voice for students’ rights,” regrets Noman.
He said unavailability of proper students’ canteens, Photostat shops, transport buses, seminar libraries are amongst the main issues, which could easily be solved by an elected students’ union.
Senior professor of mass communication department of Karachi University Inam Bari agreed that there must be students’ unions as well as a system to be followed. He said: “I am really against the presence of rangers in our university but still the rangers are inevitable in the present circumstances to ensure campus peace, as there is no elected student union to help the university management in solving problems including maintaining peace and security.
He said students unions should be without any political support. He said political elements amongst students create problems especially during exams. They foment agitations, call strikes and indulge in bloody clashes.
He revealed that in some cases even teachers and chairpersons are threatened and pressurized to allow the ineligible students to sit in the semester examinations.
He recalled that before 1983 students’ unions used to produce high-calibre activities. He emphasized that there must be early elections of student unions and their chosen representatives should be consulted in the matters related to students. He said student unions should be practically restored while stern measures taken to stop the anti-social elements entering in these unions.
Professor Inam suggested there should be proper monitoring and ban on the ‘outsiders’ to run the election campaigns of student unions.
Praising the event of ‘students’ week’ that used to be organized by students’ union before 1983, he said such healthy activities are also direly needed now.
Live and functioning students’ unions would not only solve the issues regarding point buses, canteens, scholarships and book fairs but also provide leadership to the country in future, he said.
Dr. Shamsuddin, Ex-Dean of Arts Faculty agreed that there must be students’ unions. “There is a prime significance of such elected institutions for betterment of education sector.”
He said that if unions were revived they should develop a sense of association. He added that the rangers standing at the varsity gate are not a liking of teachers, but they are there to control the agitations and clashes among the students. He said after elected unions operate in campuses their security conditions would certainly improve.
Dr Shamsuddin said that previously students used hockey sticks when they brawled but now they use bullets and guns. Right now these are political groups and not students’ unions which rule the campuses and they are backed by all major political parties to support their political agendas.
Dr Zulqarnain Ahmed Shadabi, Associate Professor at Urdu Department, said banning students unions was actually to limit the student activities in campuses. Student unions are supposed to be the nucleus for development of leadership qualities amongst students. There should be a code of ethics which should be followed by all students as a primary benchmark and only those students should be eligible to contest polls who can promote education. He added that students were major force behind the revolutions of France, Iran, Libya and Egypt, adding we also need student bodies that work for the betterment of society.
Prof Dr. Mehmood Ghaznavi, who had served as president of students’ union during 1979-80 and 1980-81, said that the decision to ban the students’ unions was a negative one. He said dictators are always afraid of students’ unions, which are real nurseries of national leadership. He recalled that the unionism used to provide training for administration and participative management to the students.
He said student unions produces many top politicians including Dost Mohammad Faizi, Khushbakht Shujat, Ziaul Islam Zubari, Meraj Mohammad Khan, Ejaz Shafi, Ahsan Iqbal, Hussain Haqqani and many more. He said that unions should be restored. However, he feared in the current scenario it might not be feasible because tolerance level has already exhausted.
Ghaznavi said that there could be a possibility that a student council be made under the supervision of teachers on experimental basis and later full-scale election of student union be held.
Chairperson Sociology Department Dr. Rana Saba Sultan said there should be proper implementation for restoration of student unions because they create political awareness and help student to solve their academic problems. She regretted some politicians are using students for their vested interests. She said there are violent tendencies in student bodies but banning is not solution to this issue, instead participation and dialogue culture is needed to solve the matters.
Prof. Dr. M. Abuzar Wajdi. Dean of Management Science and Director of Evening Programme Karachi University said that the decision to ban student unions was bad; however, one must analyze the reasons behind this ban. He said student unions are the reflection of democratic values and democracy emerges from grassroots. He said empowering unions means development of participation culture. He feared due to law and order and security problems, the mind present regime might not hold the union elections.
Naveed Zuberi, adviser to Sindh senior minister for education and literacy Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq said election of student unions must be held as they are helpful for solving students’ problems. He said Pir Mazhar is in favour of the election but due to certain circumstances, the election of student unions might not be conducted in near future. He, however, said he had made detailed report on revival of student unions and sent it to the ministry. He urged student to expurgate universities from violence and ammunition.
They said all the stakeholders including students, teachers, heads of educational institutions and education department must take sincere and serious efforts for holding elections of students’ unions so that this neglected sector could thrive again to give Pakistan a credible leadership in the days to come.
Nazim Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) Karachi University chapter Abdul Muqtadir Ghazi said in Pakistan students’ unions were victimized by a dictator. He said these unions were banned after blaming that they were responsible for violence and disturbance at campuses. “However, whole nation witnessed that the violence and bloodshed at campuses doubled and tripled after these unions were banned.”
He said the campus violence is the direct result of lack of good student leadership. He said thus the ban or curbs on students’ unions are furthering the campus violence rather curtailing it. Quoting the figures, he said during 37 years when student unions had been active in Pakistan only 15 people lost lives in incidents of campus violence; however, after their banning some 250 people have died in such violence.
He said many students are unable to discriminate between a students’ union and students’ organization. Elaborating further he said a student union is the body of students elected by them to highlight their rights and to solve their problems; whereas a student organization is a body which is not directly elected by students themselves and rather they are controlled and run by outside elements. He said these students’ organizations are responsible for violence and disturbance at campus.
Ghazi demanded of the government to immediately restore students’ unions and ensure their free and fair elections at the earliest.
People’s Students’ Federation (PSF) President Basharatullah said that it was a pity that elections for students’ unions were yet to be held, though the prime minister had lifted ban on these unions some three years back. “Students are precious assets and future builders of Pakistan. They have to run this country, and students’ unions develop the required leadership qualities in them.”
He added that noted bureaucrats, democrats, politicians and leaders of today were students of yore days. He said our future leadership must emerge from students of this generation; however, they are still deprived of their right of union election. “No country could advance unless its students are given their rights,” asserted Basharat.
Maaz Shaikh, a student of BS 3rd year in KU Mass Communication department, said the administration of universities should hold elections of students’ union in their supervision. He said every Tom, Dick and Harry should not be allowed to contest these elections, but the students having character and commitment should be allowed to contest. He said he was at loss to understand why the government was reluctant to hold elections of student unions, when the ban had already been lifted.
Hafiz Muhammad Noman, MA Mass Communication (Previous) student, also reminded that when PPP took hold of the government three years back, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, in his address to the national assembly, had explained his governmental priorities and one of them was restoration of student unions. “Unfortunately, after three and half a year his government is yet to take any initiatives on this issue.”
The syndicate of Karachi University is the highest authority that consists of many members and one of them is supposed to be the president of students’ union. “The seat for the union president is always there in the syndicate; however, it remains vacant as no election of students’ union is held. He said the decisions taken in the syndicate lack proper mandate as the syndicate lack the important voice to defend interests of students.”
Other members gather, sit, make education policies and decisions and go without knowing the students’ needs and nobody raises voice for students’ rights,” regrets Noman.
He said unavailability of proper students’ canteens, Photostat shops, transport buses, seminar libraries are amongst the main issues, which could easily be solved by an elected students’ union.
Senior professor of mass communication department of Karachi University Inam Bari agreed that there must be students’ unions as well as a system to be followed. He said: “I am really against the presence of rangers in our university but still the rangers are inevitable in the present circumstances to ensure campus peace, as there is no elected student union to help the university management in solving problems including maintaining peace and security.
He said students unions should be without any political support. He said political elements amongst students create problems especially during exams. They foment agitations, call strikes and indulge in bloody clashes.
He revealed that in some cases even teachers and chairpersons are threatened and pressurized to allow the ineligible students to sit in the semester examinations.
He recalled that before 1983 students’ unions used to produce high-calibre activities. He emphasized that there must be early elections of student unions and their chosen representatives should be consulted in the matters related to students. He said student unions should be practically restored while stern measures taken to stop the anti-social elements entering in these unions.
Professor Inam suggested there should be proper monitoring and ban on the ‘outsiders’ to run the election campaigns of student unions.
Praising the event of ‘students’ week’ that used to be organized by students’ union before 1983, he said such healthy activities are also direly needed now.
Live and functioning students’ unions would not only solve the issues regarding point buses, canteens, scholarships and book fairs but also provide leadership to the country in future, he said.
Dr. Shamsuddin, Ex-Dean of Arts Faculty agreed that there must be students’ unions. “There is a prime significance of such elected institutions for betterment of education sector.”
He said that if unions were revived they should develop a sense of association. He added that the rangers standing at the varsity gate are not a liking of teachers, but they are there to control the agitations and clashes among the students. He said after elected unions operate in campuses their security conditions would certainly improve.
Dr Shamsuddin said that previously students used hockey sticks when they brawled but now they use bullets and guns. Right now these are political groups and not students’ unions which rule the campuses and they are backed by all major political parties to support their political agendas.
Dr Zulqarnain Ahmed Shadabi, Associate Professor at Urdu Department, said banning students unions was actually to limit the student activities in campuses. Student unions are supposed to be the nucleus for development of leadership qualities amongst students. There should be a code of ethics which should be followed by all students as a primary benchmark and only those students should be eligible to contest polls who can promote education. He added that students were major force behind the revolutions of France, Iran, Libya and Egypt, adding we also need student bodies that work for the betterment of society.
Prof Dr. Mehmood Ghaznavi, who had served as president of students’ union during 1979-80 and 1980-81, said that the decision to ban the students’ unions was a negative one. He said dictators are always afraid of students’ unions, which are real nurseries of national leadership. He recalled that the unionism used to provide training for administration and participative management to the students.
He said student unions produces many top politicians including Dost Mohammad Faizi, Khushbakht Shujat, Ziaul Islam Zubari, Meraj Mohammad Khan, Ejaz Shafi, Ahsan Iqbal, Hussain Haqqani and many more. He said that unions should be restored. However, he feared in the current scenario it might not be feasible because tolerance level has already exhausted.
Ghaznavi said that there could be a possibility that a student council be made under the supervision of teachers on experimental basis and later full-scale election of student union be held.
Chairperson Sociology Department Dr. Rana Saba Sultan said there should be proper implementation for restoration of student unions because they create political awareness and help student to solve their academic problems. She regretted some politicians are using students for their vested interests. She said there are violent tendencies in student bodies but banning is not solution to this issue, instead participation and dialogue culture is needed to solve the matters.
Prof. Dr. M. Abuzar Wajdi. Dean of Management Science and Director of Evening Programme Karachi University said that the decision to ban student unions was bad; however, one must analyze the reasons behind this ban. He said student unions are the reflection of democratic values and democracy emerges from grassroots. He said empowering unions means development of participation culture. He feared due to law and order and security problems, the mind present regime might not hold the union elections.
Naveed Zuberi, adviser to Sindh senior minister for education and literacy Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq said election of student unions must be held as they are helpful for solving students’ problems. He said Pir Mazhar is in favour of the election but due to certain circumstances, the election of student unions might not be conducted in near future. He, however, said he had made detailed report on revival of student unions and sent it to the ministry. He urged student to expurgate universities from violence and ammunition.
