KARACHI, April 1: Calls for lifting the ban on students’ unions have been echoing for close to two-and-a-half decades, ever since General Ziaul Haq enforced the prohibition in 1984. However, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani’s announcement on the floor of the National Assembly on March 29, withdrawing the proscription on students’ union activities (among other ‘people friendly’ policies) has been hailed across the board.
Dawn spoke to several academics, politicians and activists belonging to political parties’ student wings to gauge what effect the announcement and the eventual resumption of students’ unions will have on the city’s campuses.
The resounding consensus is that the decision will help create a more tolerant atmosphere conducive to learning on campuses and that hopefully, the vicious fits of violence that the city’s colleges and universities have witnessed for over two decades, involving feuding student political groups, will become a thing of the past.
“We’ve always wanted the ban to be lifted so that students can be given their rights. There are unions in every profession, so why should students be deprived? This will allow students to realize their potential. It will create a democratic culture on campus and will create leadership for the future. A large portion of the current crop of leaders belonging to political and religious parties participated in student union activities.
“If one recalls, Benazir Bhutto had also announced the lifting of the ban in 1988. However, for some reason elections were only held in Punjab. The prime minister’s pronouncement should be implemented in letter and spirit. There should be elections countrywide,” said Arshad Shah, a spokesman for the All Pakistan Muttahida Students Organization, the student wing of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.
Arshad Naqvi, Karachi head of the Pakistan People’s Party-allied People’s Student Federation, was equally upbeat.
“It’s a great decision. The ban was placed by a military dictator. It totally deprived students of their rights. The credit goes to Benazir Bhutto, for it was her government that initiated efforts to re-establish the unions in 1988. But some vested interests botched that effort as there was bloodshed during elections in the Punjab. This time it was included in the PPP’s manifesto and thanks to Mr Zardari and Mr Gilani’s efforts, it is being implemented.”
Syed Munawar Hasan, Secretary-General of the Jamaat-i-Islami, who actively participated in union activities during his student days, was highly critical of the time it took to re-establish the unions.
“It has taken 25 years to take this step. A quarter century has been wasted. People have been deprived of leadership as the unions used to be training grounds for future leaders. The vice-chancellors should help implement this decision and a code of conduct should definitely be formed. There should be a genuine effort to help establish the system of student unions,” he said.
Asked how he thought the students of today would adapt to a system they largely have no clue about, Mr Hasan said the current generation would catch on in due time.
‘The students will adapt’
“The students will adapt very quickly. This generation has a great knack for picking things up quickly. The only thing is that in the past, students had an ideological orientation, whether it was towards the left, right or Islam. This is missing today and the result may be that activities will be a bit bland. But I think in due time the unions will meet the students’ academic and extra-curricular needs.”
Kazi Saleem, spokesman of the University of Karachi, said that as long as there was no political interference and discipline was maintained, the situation looked extremely conducive.
“There has been a leadership void. However, it is a great decision. It is a great responsibility on the students. There are great young minds out there and if there is no political interference, a lot is possible. Activities like debates will bring forth the leaders of tomorrow. The vice-chancellor has told the student adviser to sort out the logistics (of establishing union activities). It will take time in character building and instilling discipline, but change is definitely in the air,” he said, citing the example of Aligarh Muslim University as a training ground for outstanding, well-rounded leaders that excelled in their fields.
Controlling violence
Student leaders were also sure that the resumption of union activities would help control the monstrous violence Karachi’s campuses have seen.
“There has been violence in the past. However, in the last few years I feel there’s been a drop. Student unions will further reduce violence. Student parties should get together and form a code of ethics to ensure peace on campuses, as well as create an atmosphere conducive to learning and extra-curricular activities,” said Mr Shah.
“Violence spiked after the ban was enforced in 1984. Violence has become part of the system. Even now some people are trying to sabotage efforts to re-establish the unions. But we are hopeful. If relatively peaceful elections can be organised on the national level, then I don’t see why peaceful elections cannot be held on campus,” observed Mr Naqvi.
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