LAHORE: On the instruction of 26-year-old PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, all bodies of People’s Student Federation (PSF) in Punjab have been dissolved primarily because most members are over 30.

According to a PPP leader, the PSF bodies in other provinces will also be dissolved gradually to infuse young blood.

“Neither a new office-bearer nor a member of the PSF will be more than 30 years old. We want youngsters in the PSF. Therefore, the PSF bodies of all districts of Punjab have been dissolved,” PPP central Punjab President Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo told Dawn.

He said Mr Bilawal had given a go-ahead to dissolve the PSF bodies in order to reoganise them on modern lines. “Since our chairman is young he has appeal among the youngsters. The new PSF will be a strong force of the PPP and actively participate in the political activities,” Mr Wattoo said.

‘Most of its members were aging, Bilawal wants young blood’

Seeing the popularity of Pakistan Tahreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan among the youth, the PPP has felt the need to reorganise the PSF. Interestingly, a good number of office-bearers and members of the student wings of the PTI (Insaf Student Federation), Jamaat-i-Islami (Islami Jamiat Tulba) and PML-N (Muslim Student Federation) are also over 30.

“Mr Bilawal is a future leader of Pakistan and he will enjoy the backing of the youth. He will gradually take control of the party and the PSF will be its important component,” says Barrister Amir Hasan, who remained a member of the PSF.

The PSF was formed in 1972. It played a leading role in the anti-Zia agitation in the late 1970s. It also made its presence felt during the MRD movement in 1981 and 1983. Many PSF members were flogged and tortured by the Zia regime.

The student wings of the political parties were quite active till the Zia regime banned the student unions in 1984.

The PSF and MSF are no more active but the strong emergence of the PTI’s ISF has forced the PPP to reorganize its wing. The IJT, however, remained an exception which continued to work even during hard times.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2015

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