04-01-2008, 01:59 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->A new dawn
Sir: <b>Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani has announced the lifting of the ban on student unions on campuses, following over two decades of official curbs on student politics imposed by Zia-ul Haq. Students, human rights activists and civil society groups are very happy with the move, which many hope will be integral to the establishment of genuine democracy in the country</b>. This move comes after several months of active participation of students across Pakistan in the fight for an independent judiciary and restoration of the judges illegally deposed on November 3, 2007. These students have shown that all students on Pakistani campuses are not ghundas and can conduct themselves peacefully for their political aims.
However, a word of caution: while it is a great thing for student politics to return in Pakistan, we must not forget the violence, bigotry and hooliganism that plagued student unions for decades and brought a bad name to campus politics. In order for the recent lifting of the ban on student politics to be fruitful, we must take a few steps to ensure peaceful conduct on campuses. First, guns must be taken off campuses, no one wants to see a repeat of the killings that have taken place in universities and colleges across Pakistan for decades. Second, groups that try to impose their own brand of morality and politics on other students via intimidation and the use of force must be prosecuted fully and given exemplary punishment, there must be zero tolerance for bullies. Third, political groups on campuses must not be allowed to influence the academic process. There have been countless cases of powerful political groups influencing and even threatening teachers, examiners and officials to ensure that their supporters and members pass an exam without even showing up. This has damaged the academic credibility of our institutions and is a practice that must be countered with the full force of the law.
BASIT CHAUDHRY
Lahore<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->link <!--emo&
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Sir: <b>Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani has announced the lifting of the ban on student unions on campuses, following over two decades of official curbs on student politics imposed by Zia-ul Haq. Students, human rights activists and civil society groups are very happy with the move, which many hope will be integral to the establishment of genuine democracy in the country</b>. This move comes after several months of active participation of students across Pakistan in the fight for an independent judiciary and restoration of the judges illegally deposed on November 3, 2007. These students have shown that all students on Pakistani campuses are not ghundas and can conduct themselves peacefully for their political aims.
However, a word of caution: while it is a great thing for student politics to return in Pakistan, we must not forget the violence, bigotry and hooliganism that plagued student unions for decades and brought a bad name to campus politics. In order for the recent lifting of the ban on student politics to be fruitful, we must take a few steps to ensure peaceful conduct on campuses. First, guns must be taken off campuses, no one wants to see a repeat of the killings that have taken place in universities and colleges across Pakistan for decades. Second, groups that try to impose their own brand of morality and politics on other students via intimidation and the use of force must be prosecuted fully and given exemplary punishment, there must be zero tolerance for bullies. Third, political groups on campuses must not be allowed to influence the academic process. There have been countless cases of powerful political groups influencing and even threatening teachers, examiners and officials to ensure that their supporters and members pass an exam without even showing up. This has damaged the academic credibility of our institutions and is a practice that must be countered with the full force of the law.
BASIT CHAUDHRY
Lahore<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->link <!--emo&
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->