(Photo taken from Dawn News)
By: Ayyan Shaikh
A students’ union is a student organization present in many colleges, universities, and high schools. Depending on the country, the purposes, method, assembly, and operation, student unions may vary. Generally, the purpose of the students’ union is to represent the student body internally and externally, including on local and national issues.
In Pakistan, even though the constitution provides for fundamental rights, including freedom of association and freedom of assembly, student unions are banned. This happened in 1984 when, under martial law, General Zia ul Haq came into power. He banned all student unions in hopes that it'll help with the longevity of his political reign as they are a perfect platform for students to emerge as aspiring future politicians. The ban was later lifted during the PPP government in 1989. Despite the win in 1989, students were again greatly disappointed in 1993, when a petition arose seeking a ban on all student unions due to some students losing their lives on campus thanks to the Afghan “jihad”. As a result of this tragedy, the supreme court banned all political activities by students on campus. Though it is argued that the court did not outright ban all student unions, it could not be denied that the court failed to specify what exactly it was banning. Hence political parties, scared of students rebelling for their rights and against any wrong action by a government, took full advantage of that. Since then, all student unions have been banned.
The absence of student unions has been disastrous for the educational system and the social and political interests of the young generation and yet there is still some support in the community for the disenfranchisement of the students. Despite all this, recently, students have come together to demand the ban on student unions to be removed. In November 2019, noticing the urgency for the revival of student unions due to the deteriorating condition of the education sector of the country, many Pakistani students marched in a demonstration, demanding the right to once again form student unions. The march spanned the country, with students stepping out in dozens of cities and was fruitful thanks to the effort of the countrywide movement of the Students Action Committee. Many issues currently present in almost all educational faculties were highlighted in this march including lack of basic facilities for students, the gender imbalance, favoritism (mostly for the wealthy class by the administration), lack of proper security measures, the inability of the administration to take proper action to stop the sexual harassment of their students and many others. This march was met with a huge amount of support by several political leaders which hints at a possible ban lift in the near future. Even though many of them spoke in favor of the student unions, barely any action was taken to remove the ban by the federal government. Sindh cabinet on the other hand, approved a bill to lift the ban on student unions and it is said that it will be put before the house for voting after consultation with the stakeholders.
Student unions are important for the awareness of all social, economic, and political issues among students. It serves as a platform which nourishes and polishes future leaders of a country. An example can be seen among all politicians who succeeded Zia ul Haq, after they opposing his regime, had gotten their political training from student politics and student unions. Furthermore, it develops the ability to absorb a different point of view among students which makes them more prone to political growth. It has been proven throughout history that student unions have power in regulating the proper rule of a country, which can be seen in the efforts of students who were at the forefront of the anti-dictatorship moment which toppled over Ayub Khan’s government.
Consequently, student unions should be restored in Pakistan, if not for the students then for a better future of this country. The new generational wave is more likely to understand the new world problems and then counter them, with the help of student unions. Let’s hope that the ban will be lifted soon because when zealous, determined, and law-abiding students enter politics, changes are bound to happen, and that too for the better.
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