Say No to Student Unions

                  Say No To Student Unions    

The most stimulated, coherent, progressive and energetic part of a country’s population is the student community. Students can be regarded as the future of any country. It is quite general that good institutes produce good and shining students which later on prove themselves good doctors, engineers, politicians etc. This is possible only when educational institutes look like educational institutes. A lot of factors are there which are responsible for destroying an academic environment in the institutes. And one of the most devastating factors is the student unions which are working in the institutes.

        The basic definition of a student is “A person, who is enrolled in a school, college or university, engaged in studies, attends classes and carefully examines something.” And the basic definition of a student union is “A building on a college or a university campus used for student activities, recreation and social and organizational meetings of the students.” There is not a single word of politics in these definitions. Unfortunately in Pakistan student unions work as the student wings of different political parties. These parties use them for their own gains and all the illegal and rubbish activities of these unions are supported by them.

        The history of the student unions in Pakistan goes to the creation of Pakistan. When Pakistan came into existence there was only one established student union Muslim Student Federation (MSF) which was actually the student wing of the ruling party Pakistan Muslim League. With the passage of time when Muslim League started to disintegrate its student wing also got splitted. Many student unions were formed and many student union alliances were also formed. Student union has passed through many phases sometimes they faced a complete ban and sometimes they enjoyed full freedom. In 1984 General Zia imposed a ban on these unions and afterwards this ban was lifted by PPP Government. But in the Government of General Pervaiz Musharaf their activities were again limited and in 2008 PM Yousaf Raza Gillani announced to lift the ban from them.

        The basic purpose of a student union is to represent and defend the rights and interests of the students. The objectives are to promote the representational, educational, social and general interests of the students. Student unions are formed for the welfare and betterment of the students in the institutes. In other countries like USA and UK these unions do exist but they solve the problems faced by the students regarding dues, admissions, hostel allotment etc. They arrange recreational trips and excursions for the students. Debate competitions are also arranged by them. Their primary objective is to benefit the student in any situation.

        If we look at these types of student unions, than it seems that it’s good to have student unions in the institutes of Pakistan as well. But the actual point is that they aren’t politicized by the republicans, democrats and conservatives. They are totally independent.

        There is no violence created by those unions. They do not call for strikes on daily bases. They do not destroy the educational environment and they also never affect the educational activities in the campuses. That’s why their institutes are regarded as the best institutes around the globe. Whereas in Pakistan where everything is rudely politicized and where grass root level politics is divided on the basis of Biradari System,  student unions became the tools in the hands of bigger fishes who utilize them according to their own will and according to the requirements and conditions.

        In Pakistan, many student wings of political parties are working e.g. Islami Jammiat Talba (IJT), Muslim Students Federation (MSF), Insaf Students Federation (ISF), Peoples Students Federation (PSF), Pakhtoon Students Federation (PkSF) and All Pakistan Mutahidda Students Organization (APMSO) are the student wings of Jamat-e-Islami, Pakistan Muslim League (N), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Pakistan Peoples Party, Awami National Party and Mutahidda Qaumi Movement respectively. Whenever a political party comes into the Govt. then its student wing becomes active but IJT and APMSO are so strong that they managed to put a strong hold in Punjab University Lahore and some institutes of SINDH respectively even in the era of the opposite parties.

        Political parties use these unions for their own benefits, student have become the puppets dancing in the hands of politicians. They are used to disturb the academic environment and to promote a gun culture. The leaders of these unions are not less than any criminal or a terrorist. Majority of them have completed their degree and are not willing to leave their institute just for the sake of power that they enjoy while being a leader of the union.

        The primary purpose of the student is to study. Due to these political student wings students got abstracted. They ignore their studies and think that copying is their right and attendance is not a condition for them to appear in the examination. They spend much of their time in strikes, creating violence, threatening others, clashes, misbehaving with teacher as well as female students of the institute. They are so strong that even the administration of the institutes is unable to control them. No law is implemented on them.