ISLAMABAD: The landmark decision made by Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) syndicate to revive student union on the campus has not yet been implemented even though the move was backed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa.

In September, the university’s syndicate at a meeting, which was also attended by the chief justice, had decided to revive the QAU’s student union, a move which was largely appreciated as it was hoped that it would pave the way for the revival of unions in other universities as well.

However, elections of the union at the QAU were not held, raising question marks on the delay. Student unions were banned in 1984 by dictator Gen Ziaul Haq in an effort to quell student uprisings against his oppressive policies. The decision had left a significant vacuum in Pakistan’s political land­scape. Four decades thence, the students at QAU seemed poised to be the first to get their democratic rights back.

QAU Vice Chancellor Niaz Ahmad Akhtar could not be approached on Sunday for his comments over the delay.

However, when contacted, Federal Secretary Education Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry, who is also member of the syndicate and supporter of the revival of student unions, said the decision of the syndicate would be implemented. He said that following the decision, a committee was formed to finalise a code of conduct and guidelines for holding the union elections.

Code of conduct prepared, awaits university syndicate’s approval,says secretary

“After holding several meetings which were attended by officials of the university, Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the education ministry, the code of conduct had been prepared,” he said and added that the same would be presented in the syndicate meeting for final approval before holding the elections.

“Honorable Chief Justice of Pakistan has already given a go-ahead to QAU to hold the syndicate meeting anytime after February 13, so in upcoming meeting the issue will be placed for final approval,” the secretary said and added that after the approval elections would be held.

Officials of QAU said that the committee had proposed that the election for the student union shall be conducted at the university level while at the department/school and institute level polls for societies would be conducted. Each society shall have its own elected office-bearers.

It also recommended that elections for the union and societies shall be held the same day and elected representatives shall hold office for a duration of one year.

The code of conduct says election will be held for president, vice president, general secretary, joint secretary and treasurer. In its report, the committee had stated that university aims to ensure that the student union and societies shall not become offshoots of political parties and “should not promote divisive religious, sectarian, parochial or ethnic agendas.”

A statement issued by the QAU after the syndicate meeting in September stated that when the issue of the union was discussed the chief justice had observed that Gen Zia’s martial law order had been repealed by an Act of Parliament in 1989. He also pointed to a 1993 Supreme Court judgement which, though it had disapproved of students’ indulgence in politics, also allowed for and appreciated the existence of elected bodies which address students’ issues and arrange co-curricular activities for them. The syndicate also factored in a unanimous resolution passed by the Senate in 2017 on the same subject into its decision.

After discussion, the syndicate unanimously decided to revive QAU’s student union, which is an elected body representing all students of the university. A committee was also constituted to come up with a detailed proposals on the modalities of elections and other relevant issues, which has completed its task and now waiting for next meeting of the syndicate.

In the meeting, the CJP had also said the union not be allowed to seek support on any ethnic, religious or political basis; rather, it should be a platform for the welfare of students and flourishing democratic culture. He also recommended that the union be modelled around Oxford Univer­sity’s student union, which has graduated a number of world leaders.

It is relevant to note here that successive governments made several commitments for the revival of student unions, but no practical steps were ever taken to this effect. In 2017, the Senate, then headed by Mian Raza Rabbani, had approved a resolution and the Senate Committee of the Whole also recommended for the revival of student unions, but the matter fizzled out. Later, during the PTI government the then prime minister Imran Khan also expressed support for the restoration of student unions following protests across the country.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2024