THIS is with reference to the editorial “Gaza’s hell” (April 28). This ‘hell’ has now become a test case for the Muslim world. Students of universities in parts of North America and Europe, especially the United States, have been agitating against the genocide in Gaza and calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities by the Zionist Israelis. These include Jewish students and faculty members, underlining the difference between Judaism and Zionism.

The protests have continued even in the face of highhanded tactics used by law-enforcement personnel. Unfortunately, universities in the Muslim world have no such momentum on their respective campuses. It was as if to save face that some faculty members of Karachi University (KU) sent a letter of support to their counterparts at 40 American universities (‘KU teachers back protests on US campuses for Gaza’ [May 2]).

This was not enough, and will never be enough. And, mind you, the letter was sent by only about 200 faculty members. Not even the entire faculty could be a part of this feeble exercise. Besides, there were no students involved at all. And, yet, it was better than any other university across the land.

Universities have played a decisive role in major political and governance decisions around the globe. Universities in Pakistan also have a history of activism, but over the years they have just become centres for ‘selling’ degrees where students have nothing to do with happenings around the globe.

The main reason for this disconnect, in my view, has been the decision to ban student unions on campuses. The ban was imposed under a martial law regime, but no political government tried to undo the decision.

The government in Sindh had lifted the ban last year, but there has been no further movement on the ground towards the restoration of the unions.

Unfortunately, students’ disconnect with global issues is embarrassing. While we are all praise for the courage being shown by students in the West, we are not doing anything to promote such activism at home.

This, in fact, is a disconnect from the reality on the part of our policymakers.

Aijaz Ali Khuwaja
Karachi

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2024