THE conditional ‘restoration’ of Syed Haider Kashan Gilani, a PhD student at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, has brought some comfort. The student was forever rusticated from the university by the disciplinary advisory committee for a Facebook post where he criticised the university administration in connection with Kissan Mela organised by it.

The legal ground for the student’s rustication is still unclear. The student has stated in his now deleted Facebook post that the Kissan Mela failed to truly reflect rural life and that it was unbecoming of teachers to be attending it instead of their classes. It was a mere expression of opinion.

It is not clear how the above-mentioned comment amounts to ‘misconduct’ and ‘indiscipline’. In a knee-jerk reaction, the university administration rusticated the student, thereby breaching his right to freedom of expression enshrined in Article 19 of the Constitution.

The people’s right to express their opinion about issues of public concern should be vigorously protected.

Saad Khosa

Quetta

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2016