LAHORE, May 6: The Taskforce on Student Unions, constituted by the Higher Education Commission, is planning to evolve a consensus that student union elections should be conducted only after the promulgation of a Student Union Act.

Besides, all universities must have a code of conduct to be implemented by the government and respective varsities’ bodies.

The taskforce was constituted soon after Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani’s announcement regarding restoration of student unions. The seven-member taskforce, headed by Punjab University vice-chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran, was asked to examine the legal framework for the implementation of the prime minister’s decision and prepare a draft code of conduct for student unions.

The taskforce members are: vice-chancellors of the Sindh University, Jamshoro; the University of Karachi; the Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad; the Balochistan University, Quetta; the University of Peshawar; and the Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan.

Taskforce Secretary Dr Mujahid Mansoori told Dawn that the PU had initially prepared its own draft for the restoration of student unions in educational institutions with a vision that they should be able to politically educate and groom students, produce a responsible and balanced leadership, promote patience, tolerance, dialogue culture as well as listen to and respect others.

The student unions should also be able to groom students who should know how to differ and how to develop a consensus.

Dr Mansoori said the taskforce had invited proposals from the vice-chancellors of all public-sector universities in the country. Now, he said, it was inviting a meeting of all stakeholders -- educationists, senior professors having experience of dealing with student affairs, legislators and heads of political parties’ student wings. A meeting would be held early next week after the arrival of PU VC Prof Kamran from the USA.

He said the taskforce would make broad-based decisions and recommendations and propose legislative bill as well as a code of conduct.

Meanwhile, the Islami Jamiat Tulaba is organising an All-Pakistan Students’ Convention at a local hotel on Wednesday (today). The central presidents and secretaries of over 20 national, provincial and regional student organisations are expected to participate in the convention.

The organisations will finalise a joint strategy after the restoration of student unions, prepare a code of conduct for their elections and discuss other issues.