May 22, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 16, 1429

ISLAMABAD, May 21: Leaders of seven student organisations have asked the government to involve students in preparing code of conduct for the restored student unions.

Political training is our right and educational campuses must provide such opportunities, they demanded.

Representatives of People’s Students Federation, Muslim Students Federation, Islami Jamiat-i-Tulba, Anjuman Tulba-i- Islam, Insaf Students Federation, Pukhtoon Students Federation and Students Action Committee participated in the consultation arranged by the Centre for Civic Education Pakistan.

Dr Qasim Jan, vice-chancellor of Quaid-i-Azam University and member of the government committee on code of conduct, asked students to extend assurances to ward off fears about violence, interference in campus routines like hostel allotments and examination system before lifting ban on student unions.

Dr Jan maintained that ethnicity was an issue of only one or two institutions. He said the Higher Education Commission (HEC) would implement the prime minister’s instructions regarding restoration of student unions. He asked students to send their views on it. He said they could not frame rules before knowing the views of students.

Former student leaders, Shahid Viquar, Khurshid Yousaf, Shafique Chaudhry and Amjad Bhatti shared their views. They said Gen Zia divided the nation and forced them to think for self- interest only. They emphasised that the students in the campus should develop a habit to think of issues and find ways to solve them.

Speakers lauded the students of Lahore University of Management Sciences and QAU who played due role for rule of law in the country.

Alia Amirali from the Students Action Committee said restoration of unions was their right. She said if someone did not work properly, it did not mean to do away with the institution of elections.

She said student unions should not be affiliated or be a subsidiary body of any political party. Parties can coordinate, guide and work with students but the student bodies should have roots in the educational institutions where they are working, she added.

Dr Rauf-i-Azam, director, Barani Institute of Management Sciences, said politics always remained in the campuses whether student unions or organisations were banned or not though ethnic and regional differences replaced ideology.

He said society made politics a taboo as parents did not allow their children to do politics.

Rashid Shah Gardezi of ATI said politicians’ entry in campuses during elections should be banned as they promoted culture of arms and intolerance. He said student unions should be allowed in all institutions whether they were in government, semi-government, private sector or under cantonments or garrisons.

He stipulated 70 per cent attendance and age factor for contesting elections.

Shakilur Rehman Burki from Pukhtoon Students Federation, Khursheed Yousuf, former joint secretary, QAU Students Union; IJT Punjab chief Hafiz Nadeem, Raja Ishtiaq of PSF and Shafiq Chaudhry, former MSF Punjab president, also spoke on the occasion.