The government informed Senate Committee of the Whole on Wednesday that there was no problem in revival of the student unions but this must be tagged with essential check and balance, which was supported by the senators. The committee met here with Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani in the chair to consider the proposals and input by State Minister for Education Balighur Rehman, Secretary Interior Ministry Shahid Khan and Chief Secretary Sindh Muhammad Siddique Memon.
There was consensus among the participants on the need for revival of student unions but insisted a code of conduct must be devised and mechanism put in place to ensure its compliance. Senators asked various questions about various aspects of the matter. The forum was told that as per the Supreme Court order, even today each student had to submit an affidavit not to take part in any union activities.
However, there was a difference of opinion on whether or not, the unions, once allowed to function, should have affiliation with mainstream political parties. The minister said the Quaid-e-Azam's support to student unions was a beacon of light for all and noted the Muslim Student Federation was formed even before the creation of Pakistan.
He said that all shared unanimity that student unions should be back to business but should be regulated properly, having no links with mainstream political parties and there should also be no power abuse. "Unionists in no way be someone's tools and no elements in the name of students should become part of student unions. In the past, rocket launchers were recovered from students and they became so powerful that vice-chancellors hesitated to take action against wrong-doers," he recalled.
Baligh proposed that the vice chancellors of universities might be invited for their proposals on this count and the world examples should be kept in view while taking a step forward in this connection. At the start of proceedings, Rabbani peeped into the history of student unions and their contribution in revival and strengthening of democracy in Pakistan and recalled how a military dictator Ziaul Haq clamped ban on them.
He pointed out that the then prime minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani had announced restoration of student unions but this could not be implemented. Rabbani said among others, university vice-chancellors would also be invited to the Senate committee. Secretary Interior Shahid Khan called for defining certain parameters for student unions after taking into account the experience of the neighbouring countries like other nations in the advanced world.
Spelling out a kind of code of conduct for student unions, he proposed that the student unions should consist of regular students and it should also be seen whether they could be kept away from political parties. Unregistered students, he continued, should not become part of unions, making sure academic activities at the universities and colleges in no way would be affected by union activities. He said there should also be age limit for students: their academic performance and attendance may also be a part of criteria to qualify for unionism, having no criminal record.
The secretary explained that the limit of expenditures by unions be defined and there should also be proper audit of the same. "Student unions must not indulge in sectarian, racial or other prejudices. Their activities should be confined to university campus only with no permission to non-students to be part of them," he said.
Sindh Chief Secretary Siddique Memon told the forum that the provincial government would hold consultations with the stakeholders, including vice-chancellors, political parties as to what should be the parameters with regards to student unions that would be shared with the House. He emphasised that student union activities should be education-oriented and the code must ensure that they are causing no impediment in educational activities, which is the prime concern.
Leader of the House Raja Muhammad Zafarul Haq wanted to know the current status of student unions in Sindh. He was told by Memon that student unions existed informally and that no unionisation was permitted. But they were free to hold cultural, sports and other activities. PML-N's Abdul Qayyum said that there were no second opinion on the question of revival of student unions, being a constitutional right of citizen but insisted unions should be restored keeping in view ground realities.
He called for thrashing out checks and balances so that student unions could not become instruments of political parties. He recalled how as the chief execution of the Pakistan Steel Mills, the union used to blackmail, enjoying back of a political party and how exchange of fire took place between union factions, occupying plants of the mills.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Senator Khushbakht Shujat and Senator Nihal Hashmi of PML-N also supported revival of student unions and said they already existed but there was ban on elections. Memon praised Senator Muzaffar Hussain Shah of PML-Functional for his proposal that the parliamentarians, MPAs and parents should also be consulted regarding unions' revival.
Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed noted many of the senators had been part of student unions and that had students not been mobilised by the Quaid, Pakistan might not emerged on the world map. He pointed out that there should be extreme caution in dealing with the matter, as some student unions had been involved in parochial and ethnic trends and also some became vehicle in the hands of such elements.
He emphasised there should be no class distinction in unions and whether or not, student unions would be allowed in private academic institutions. PML-N Senator Salahuddin Tirmizi noted crime and law and order had been an issue in the past with regards to student unions.