ON Oct 4, the Quaidian Students Federation in Islamabad’s Quaid-i-Azam University went on strike with a charter of demands, including the reversal of a 10pc fee hike, improved students’ resources such as housing and medical facilities, and the reinstatement of students suspended or expelled following a clash between ethnic groups in May. After a lengthy shutdown, the QAU administration finally acceded to all but the last demand. Classes resumed yesterday after most QSF student councils ended their strike. This episode should have given the administration some pause to consider the deep sense of alienation among this multi-ethnic coalition of students, and reflect on its power to ameliorate or exacerbate it. Unfortunately, it chose force over dialogue, and instigated a police crackdown on the remaining protesters, with scores detained. Such heavy-handed actions are emblematic of the way we treat our increasing, and increasingly disaffected, young population.

While there must be a no-tolerance policy of violence among students, QAU ought to address its own security lapses, de-weaponise the campus, foster cultural diversity and harmony, and develop community policing strategies. Ultimately, the root causes of campus violence must be analysed. Banning student unions 30 years ago did little to curb campus violence; on the contrary, it has arguably exacerbated it by depriving students of necessary democratic incubators. Add to this the feeling that there is little investment in their welfare and education, even as enrolments increase and fees are hiked, and it is little wonder that students feel they go unheard, and are backed into a corner and forced to agitate. Much like parenting, discipline must only be used as part of a multifaceted strategy to support our youth’s physical, social and intellectual development. Punitive measures not only widen the fissures between students and administration, they also gloss over the genuine need for reforming a broken system. Instead of treating students like would-be criminals, let us treat them like the future leaders we want, nay, need them to be.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2017