10 February 2004	Tuesday	18 Zilhaj 1424

KARACHI, Feb 9: Veteran politicians, former judges, local journalists, student leaders and NGO representatives at a seminar on Monday called upon students to continue their "constitutional" struggle for lifting of ban on student unions , besides creating awareness among people about importance of students' role in a healthy society.

They also advised students to approach higher judicial and executive authorities for implementation of the Supreme Court's decision, which had declared the ban on student unions "unconstitutional and illegal."

The seminar on "Student Unions: 20 years of ban," was organized by the Islami Jamiat Talaba at a local hotel and people from all walks of life spoke on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, a former chief justice of Sindh High Court, Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid, said if the apex court had declared the ban on student unions "unjust," anybody could approach high courts or even the Supreme Court, requesting immediate implementation of the decision.

The ban had neither benefited the country, nor the education, he said, adding the standard of public sector educational institutions declined after the unions were banned there.

He asked the students to continue pressing the governments through media, by holding seminars and organizing rallies in favour of their demands, adding that civil society's pressure had the capacity to compel the government to mend its ways.

He also criticized the army and the government, saying instead of following constitutional directives regarding provision of basic education, health facilities, food, clothing, shelter, employment and other necessities of life to the people, country's resources were being wasted on trivial things.

Jamat-i-Islami Naib Amir and Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal leader Senator Prof Ghafoor Ahmed, in his speech, held army generals responsible for every problem confronting the country and said the ban was a brainchild of a military dictator.

He said that JI tried its best to raise the issues of privatization of the Agriculture University of Faisalabad and illegal detention of nuclear scientists in the Senate and in the National Assembly, but these institutions were not being taken into confidence on important national issues.

"Army is doing everything to strengthen its rule instead of safeguarding the frontiers of the country," he remarked, adding that ban on student unions was a "cruel step" taken by a military dictator who was aware of students' capabilities.

Veteran politician Meraj Muhammad Khan, in his speech, recalling the history of student movements for revival of democracy and civil and human rights in the county, said it were students who struggled for creation of Pakistan on directives of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

He said nowadays involvement of students in politics was considered a taboo, although many former student leaders became successful politicians, statesmen, ministers and rulers in the country.

Mr Khan was of the view that the ban was used as a weapon against the strength of students, and said the present education system in the country was against the aspirations of Quaid-i-Azam.

He said unless and until this "rotten system" was changed, the people should not consider themselves as free and liberated. Former student leader and member of Karachi University Syndicate, Prof Rafique Alam, lauded IJT for holding the seminar and said it had the tendency to launch a movement for restoration of student unions.

IJT KU Nazim Syed Ahmed Noman, president, Pasban, an NGO, Altaf Shakoor, and Sajjad Mir also spoke, while a large number of students from various city educational institutions were present on the occasion. -PPI