KARACHI: Speakers at a programme were of the unanimous view that students have a right of association and they should not compromise on their freedom and autonomy.

The programme, organised by Szabist’s department of social sciences on Tuesday, had several members of civil society along with former and current student activists discuss the ‘Revival of Student Unions’ and the ‘code of conduct’ said to precede this revival.

Opening the floor for discussion, Dr Riaz Shaikh, dean of social sciences at Szabist, said that student unions were a fundamental right of our youth, take away from them in 1984.

“The voice of our youth was muffled then but the recent discussion in the Sindh cabinet gives some hope. Still, it is not a public discourse. It demands a forceful debate. And discussion about it should not die down because student unions have their place in academic life as currently there is no strong voice of the students,” he said.

Prof Dr Tauseef Ahmed Khan reminded that there was a decision in 1992 when the Supreme Court re-imposed the ban on student unions through an interim order, but which was not fully reported by the media. “It was actually [said that] student unions could function with certain restrictions,” he pointed out.

‘Violence seen at universities was not due to student unions but due to political engineering’

Some students who have examined the bill in question said that it was rather vague in nature as it concerns the welfare of students but leaves hardly any room for bargaining.

Masood Ahsan suggested picking up from where they had left off in 1984. He also said that the union elections, when they are held, should be held simultaneously in government as well as private universities. “The students should have their own constitution and autonomous bodies where no outside force should interfere. They should also make their own budget,” he said.

“There are people saying now that if student unions are revived it would give way to class divides and racial and religious differences and extremism. But we should trust our youth, our students, who are aware of all these issues,” he added.

Discretionary powers of VCs

Rafiq Patel said that there was a clause in the student union bill through which the vice chancellor of a university will have discretionary powers of rusticating any student.

“It can be quite a dangerous thing to give so much power to one individual. So I suggest having a disciplinary committee instead,” he said, adding that universities should have their own security instead of looking towards the police or Rangers for help every now and then to restore order.

Saying that, he also pointed out that earlier the violence seen at universities was not due to student unions but due to political engineering.

Aiman Manan, a student, said that women’s representation in student unions was also a necessity. “There should also be reserve seats for women like there are in parliament,” she said.

‘Unions in private varsities a complicated matter’

Women’s rights activist Anis Haroon then pointed out that having unions and union elections in private universities could be a complicated matter so it will have to be at government-recognised universities for now.

She also said that there should be restrictions on arms and hate speech in student politics as that leads to violence. But she also said that one should be careful about what one agrees to at this time of negotiation.

“We have a big youth bulge here which is eyed as a vote bank. So don’t readily accept all conditions placed before you while reviving student unions. The unions are the students’ right of association. They are nurseries preparing you for the future. It is sad when the government wants credit for the restoration of student unions but won’t allow students autonomy. So don’t compromise on your freedom, your autonomy,” she advised.

Szabist president Shahnaz Wazir Ali also agreed that having a student union was a fundamental right of students, which was snatched from them several decades ago. “Let’s discuss the bill for now but remember starting a big debate about it and the conditions attached with it may just prevent it from happening altogether. This is how we lost out on the pro-women bills too. So let the bill come first,” she said.

Dr Haroon Ahmed observed that it is said that in the absence of student unions, many religious groups and strange political parties come up, which did more damage than good. “We have had a dearth of leadership due to the lack of training imparted through the student unions,” he said.

‘No need for women’s quota’

Dr Tipu Sultan said that with the basic right of students taken away from them, there was no fresh blood in politics. “All the chicks were gone and we were left with brooding hen,” he said.

About the need for women in student unions, he said that with female students ranging between 60 and 70 per cent at universities, there was no need for a women’s quota. “The women’s numbers will show up in the elections anyway,” he said.

About the code of conduct clause, he advised to not worry too much about it.

“Now is the time to grab the opportunity. The amendments can come later. So I would suggest holding elections on minimum points for now and the other points can be added later,” he said.

Asad Iqbal Butt of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Momin Khan, a former student unionist, journalist and trade unionist Khurshid Tanvir, Saeed Baloch of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum and others also spoke.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2019