ISLAMABAD: The syndicate of Quaid-i-Azam (QAU) University at a meeting, which was also attended by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, on Friday approved a code of conduct for holding an election to the student union.

The QAU syndicate meeting was held at the university with Vice Chancellor Niaz Ahmad Akhtar in the chair.

“Today, the syndicate has given the go-ahead and approved the code of conduct and we will announce a date for holding the election soon. We are likely to hold the election in August or September as election of the alumni is going to be held before the summer vacations,” said a source at the QAU.

The syndicate after holding a detailed discussion approved the code of conduct prepared by a committee formed by it in its previous meeting.

The syndicate also gave the go-ahead signal to the QAU management to hold the election of the student union. It directed that the student union should be apolitical and its main focus should be on providing a platform for the welfare of students and flourishing democratic cultures.

Sources said the CJP had already directed that the union should not be allowed to seek support on any ethnic, religious or political basis; rather, it should be a platform for the welfare of students and flourishing democratic culture. He had also recommended that the union be modeled like Oxford University’s student union, which has graduated a number of world leaders.

The syndicate at a meeting held in September had decided to revive the student union at QAU and had directed for finalising a code of conduct.

Officials of the QAU said the committee in the code of conduct had proposed that the election for the student union shall be conducted at the university level while at the department/school and institute level polls for societies would be conducted. Each society shall have its own elected office-bearers. It was also recommended that elections for the union and societies shall be held the same day and elected representatives shall hold office for one year.

The code of conduct says that the election will be held for president, vice president, general secretary, joint secretary and treasurer. In its report, the committee had stated that the university aims to ensure that the student union and societies shall not become offshoots of political parties and “should not promote divisive religious, sectarian, parochial or ethnic agendas.”

The sources said the syndicate directed the QAU management to go for master planning of its entire land and buildings and also prepare a strategic plan to be presented at the next meeting.

Student unions were banned in 1984 by military dictator Ziaul Haq in an effort to quell student uprisings against his oppressive policies. The decision had left a significant vacuum in Pakistan’s political landscape. Four decades thence, the students at QAU seem poised to be the first to get their democratic right back.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2024