Prime Minister Imran Khan, on Sunday, announced his decision to “restore and enable” student unions and allow them to play a part in grooming future leaders of the country.
The Premier said that Pakistan will learn from the best practices in the world and erect student unions on the models adopted by internationally renowned universities.
Student unions groom leaders
Taking to Twitter, Prime Minister Imran said, “We will establish a comprehensive & enforceable code of conduct, learning from the best practices in internationally renowned universities, so that we can restore & enable student unions to play their part in positively grooming our youth as future leaders of the country.”
We will establish a comprehensive & enforceable code of conduct, learning from the best practices in internationally renowned universities, so that we can restore & enable student unions to play their part in positively grooming our youth as future leaders of the country.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 1, 2019
Prime Minister Khan cautioned that in the past, student unions destroyed the intellectual atmosphere of universities by engaging in violence.
He said, “Universities groom future leaders of the country & student unions form an integral part of this grooming. Unfortunately, in Pakistan universities’ student unions became violent battlegrounds & completely destroyed the intellectual atmosphere on campuses.”
Universities groom future leaders of the country & student unions form an integral part of this grooming. Unfortunately, in Pakistan universities' student unions became violent battlegrounds & completely destroyed the intellectual atmosphere on campuses.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 1, 2019
Earlier on Sunday, Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting, had announced that the Premier has ordered the Federal and Provincial governments to devise a comprehensive strategy to ensure that students’ rights are protected and their issues are speedily resolved.
نوجوان نسل ہمارا قیمتی اثاثہ اور روشن مستقبل کی امید ہے۔نوجوانوں کے خوابوں کی تعبیر وزیراعظم عمران خان کا بنیادی مشن ہے۔طلباء کے حقوق کے تحفظ اور مسائل کے فوری حل کے لیے وزیر اعظم نے وفاق اور صوبوں کو جامع حکمت عملی مرتب کرنے کی ہدایات دی ہیں۔
— Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan (@Dr_FirdousAwan) December 1, 2019
Taking to Twitter, Dr. Firdous said, “The youth is a valuable asset of the country and our hope for a bright future.” She said that realizing the dreams of the young generation is a fundamental mission for Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Read more: FIR against participants of Student Solidarity March raises questions about rule of law
SAPM observed that students demanding their rights reflect a youth that is increasingly conscious and concerned about its future.
اپنے حقوق کا مطالبہ طلباء کے بڑھتے ہوئے شعور اور فکر کی عکاسی ہے جو نہایت خوش آئند ہے۔
— Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan (@Dr_FirdousAwan) December 1, 2019
Dr. Firdous said, “Our students are the power that will usher in a new wave of development, and dynamic diplomatic leadership in the country. These students will stand tall in the face of every challenge.”
ہمارے طلباء وہ طاقت ہیں جس نے آنے والے دور میں ملکی ترقی کیلئے نئی سوچ، بصیرت اور ولولہ انگیز جمہوری قیادت وجود میں لانی ہے۔ہمارے نوجوان ہر چیلنج کا ڈٹ کر مقابلہ کرنے کا آہنی عزم رکھتے ہیں۔
— Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan (@Dr_FirdousAwan) December 1, 2019
These decisions have been ushered in after students and activists across the country have taken to the streets for the Student Solidarity March, called by the Student Action Committee (SAC) to advocate for its charter of demands.
Students must have a voice in students affairs for higher education to thrive. Student unions are nurseries for leadership. All political parties should evolve consensus for restoration of student unions #StudentsSolidarityMarch. pic.twitter.com/3s5IzUfqFw
— Nafisa Shah (@ShahNafisa) November 29, 2019
The student protestors demand a restoration of the budget for the Higher Education Commission, put an end to dismissals of academics, allocating 5% of the GDP for educational reforms, nationalizing education institutes and eliminating the recent increments in fees.
Surkh hoga, Surkh hoga
Asia surkh hoga
Lenin ke afkaar se
Asia surkh hoga
Mao ke Aamal se
Asia surkh hogaKarachi!#StudentsSolidarityMarch #StudentUnions @PrsfK pic.twitter.com/HfVxizgyOb
— Waqas انگاریہ (@WaqasAalam) November 29, 2019
The students also called for establishing committees across educational institutes to launch an inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment, alongside ensuring that these committees also represent students. Moreover, they demanded that the offices of security forces must be removed from university campuses.
Read more: What do academics think of the Student Unions in Pakistan?
However, the students leading the march have also come under fire for their “anti-state statements” against the government and the army, and many of the organizers and students have been booked under sedition charges.
Alamgir Wazir in his speech in #StudentSolidarityMarch said:
"Students demands should NOT only be limited to students union, but they should also stand up against the whole STATE & drag them (Army & Govt) on Mall road"
Now the new face of leftists – Arooj is endorsing mutiny. https://t.co/breK1Oq0wz pic.twitter.com/7207fqrdDu
— السراب (@Zarkawaa) December 1, 2019
Observing the rising demands for student unions, Dr. Moeed Pirzada, a prominent political commentator, said, “Strong opinions exist on both sides and many fear that student unions provide tools to political parties for exercising control! But Student Unions can be positive too! A framework should be debated for stepwise resurrection!”
Strong opinions exist on both sides and many fear that student unions provide tools to political parties for exercising control! But Student Unions can be positive too! A framework should be debated for step wise resurrection! https://t.co/hMRFskSyFC via @@GVS_News
— Moeed Pirzada (@MoeedNj) December 1, 2019