The Feminist Collective Lahore Chapter has expressed grave concern over rise of violence and intolerance in the universities across the country and called upon government to lift ban on student unions to promote healthy debate and democratic norms. In a statement here on Thursday The Feminist Collective Lahore said it is appalled to learn that 190+ students have been arrested today and spread over different lockups in Lahore after a brutal fight broke out on the Punjab University campus.
On Tuesday, January 23, 2018, masked students of the Islami Jamiat-e-Tulaba (IJT) attacked and beat up Pakhtun, Baloch, Sindhi, Seraiki and Baltistani students, severely injuring many. It is imperative that the administration of Punjab University take measures to eradicate violence and intimidation as a political tactic on its university campuses. Such acts of moral policing and discrimination are a source of consternation amongst students from minority backgrounds, and foment ethnic and political discord leading to horrific incidents, like the one in question.
First and foremost, the administration of PU must demand the release of its students from lock up, and the dismissal of all baseless charges against them. This is the minimum step necessary to let their student body know that PU cares about their wellbeing, their educational goals and their future as productive and prosperous citizens of Pakistan. There is no basis for levelling terrorism charges at students on any side of this matter, and the university.
Secondly, parity must be established between the IJT and all other organizations that wish to organize on the PU campus so that there is no longer an imbalance of power between various student groups.
Finally, the administration should work to eradicate the hyper-masculine environment on campus, whereby disagreements are expressed in physically violent forms, and women are actively discouraged from joining student groups. There are a number of ways to foster debate, encourage learning on trenchant political matters, and bring all sectors of the student body into the fold of discussion without resorting to violence. Violent hyper-masculinity not only silences disagreement and dissent, but also ensures that no gender parity or balance will be possible. It is a fascism based on the singular opinion put forth by the single-gender members of a single authoritarian political group.
The Feminist Collective Lahore also demanded that the State stop turning a deaf ear to the roar of extremism echoing on university campuses across the country. University campuses ought to be sites for learning, and for experiencing political and ideological difference expressed in peaceful, respectful, and democratic forms. From violent altercations between student groups at PU, the strike by students at Quaid-e-Azam University in October of last year that led to multiple arrests, to the brutal lynching and murder of Mashal Khan at Mardan University in April 2017, the unrest on campuses across the country is a symptom of a larger malaise: the lack of space for dialogue, and plurality of ideologies and political positions. In this respect, our campuses are a reflection of what ails our society today. When students are discriminated against on the basis of their ethnicity, gender, religion, caste or class, and when they are discouraged from coming together to think about and fight for social justice, violence and bigotry become inevitable.
Therefore, by banning student organizations and refusing to keep IJT activities in check, the State has played a vicious role in fostering violence on campuses. The issues that plague our campuses today cannot be resolved by criminalizing students, nor by criminalizing dissent.
Instead, the ban on student unions must be lifted and groups other than the student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami must be allowed to freely and legally organize for their rights and the rights of others on all campuses. Student unions have been banned in Pakistan for too long, with some sort of exception in place for IJT. For healthy dialogue and a fostering of democratic principles, all student unions must be allowed to step into the field of discourse on campuses and champion their ideas with words, rather than blows.
The Feminist Collective believes that the only way to stop it, however, is to bring other sets of principles to bear on student politics and to encourage lively debate while sharply discouraging violence, intimidation and bullying. Release all students in lock up. Provide them with medical care now. Take disciplinary action against the perpetrators. And open up the field of lively debate for all groups, the Feminist Collective demanded.