KARACHI: Placing a ban on student unions deprived students of critical thinking and questioning, with the result that sectarian and ethnic parties infiltrated campuses, said rights activists while calling for joint efforts to restore student unions.

“It is a general misconception that student unions are a waste of time,” said well-known Pakistani singer Jawad Ahmed during a press conference called to introduce the International Youth and Workers Movement (IYWM) at the Karachi Press Club here on Tuesday.

He said: “Everyone here doesn’t come from an affluent background where everything is provided on a platter to them. You have to fight for your rights. And for that you need to know how to raise your voice against the wrongs.

“As our education system creates class divide, it is our right to form unions, to question and agitate against injustices, and not accept things as they are.”

The students who accepted things as they were would later become oppressed by dictators, said Mr Ahmed, adding that this was against the basic concept of democracy.

“See, there are trade unions which is a vital organ of the working class. When the ruling class deprive you of your rights, you need to unite, join forces or consolidate in the form of unions to face the opposition and develop awareness about the issues that you face and how they can be tackled. Sadly, we haven’t been able to do that with students. There is no one to make them aware, they have no leaders to turn to either,” he said, while referring to the issues of high fee structures, expensive books and lack of hostel facilities.

Eminent psychiatrist Dr Syed Haroon Ahmed said he had been active in student politics during his college days.

“These days we are divided on the basis of ethnicity, religion and sects. That democratic air is no longer there. Actually, the problem started when parties took over the student unions with ulterior motives. Suddenly, there was bad blood, militant wings, weapons, violence that led to the banning of student politics and unions,” he said.

Dr Ahmed said student unions were a nursery, preparing youth for future challenges. They promoted healthy activities such as sports, debating societies, poetry competitions. “Had we not banned student unions some three decades back, there would not have been this much anger and unrest in society and silent majority today,” he added.

Human rights activist Anis Haroon said student unions were banned as they were thought to cause a breakdown of law and order, but as students didn’t practise politics in their formative years, there was no political depth in people at present. “Instead of doing away with student unions, the administration should have purged campuses of weapons and other negative elements,” she said.

Dr Syed Tariq Sohail of the Jinnah Medical and Dental College said that while the student unions had been banned, the student militant wings were allowed to carry on. “Sectarian parties, ethnic parties infiltrated the unions,” he said.

“Students have played a role in so many big and positive changes in the world. They possess energy, they have dreams. So education alone isn’t enough for their future success, they also need to be aware of the issues,” said IYWM central committee member Dr Shanaz Khan.

Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2016