PESHAWAR, April 27: The student leaders affiliated with various political parties in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa wanted violence-free academic environment on the university campuses, saying that educated youth can play pivotal role in the development of the country seeped in deep crises.
A few simple questions were put before the student leaders and active workers of various political parties like which kind of instructions they received from their respective leaderships concerning student politics; what will be their role in the upcoming general election and whether or not their parents support them to join student politics and which kind of environment would they like to prevail on the university campuses.
Though the apex court has imposed ban on student politics since 1984 in the educational institutions yet most student leaders enjoy a clandestine support from their top leadership and receive directives concerning different activities to promote party agenda among students following meetings of student leaders at various levels with the central leaders. Most student representatives were unanimous on restoration of student unions on the campuses and considered it a valid platform for voicing their grievances and problems and also termed it a grooming source of training for active politics in future.
Malik Amjad, president of People’s Students Federation (PSF) at the University of Peshawar while sharing his views said that the university campuses were no more plagued with dirty politics of violence and the credit for this change went to the vibrant media. He said that his parents fully supported him for joining politics because his involvement did not affect his studies.
“Several of our former office-bearers have qualified competitive tests and have been appointed on high civil posts, we never arrange a function during study hours,” Mr Amjad said. He also demanded that student unions should be restored after lifting ban, adding that students would become more responsible and active and would be in a position to raise their issues in a positive manner.
“Yes, we hold meetings with our leaders at high level and receive instructions from them, but we are free in making our decisions regarding student affairs. We shall help Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidates in the coming election in running campaigns,” he said.
Azizullah Kakar, president of Insaf Students Federation (ISF) at Islamia College Peshawar (chartered university), pointed out that parents in most cases did not want their wards to get involved in political activities owing to bad track record of student politics in educational institutions in the past. However, he said that youth being harbinger of revolutionary change their role could not be undermined, and as such parents, elders and teachers needed to be convinced to encourage young people to create awareness among masses for bringing about a qualitative change in the community.
“We have been given special training how to help in running election campaign in the constituencies where Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) would field its candidates. We promote justice, knowledge and Student leaders in KP support violence-free campuses tolerance and ask students to stress on their studies first. Violence is not going to lead us anywhere,” Mr Kakar observed.
Sohail Ahmad Babar Rahi, nazim Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, told this scribe that his party leadership never imposed decisions on him, saying that IJT workers would fully participate in the upcoming general election to make candidates of Jamaat-i-Islami successful. He said parents showed reluctance to allow their children to take part in student politics because they were worried about their studies and also due to non-existence of student unions. As many as 49 per cent student votes, he said, would make a significant difference. Complete end to violence on campuses could be made possible only after lifting ban on student unions, Mr Rahi said.
Imtiaz Wazir, president of Pakhtun Students’ Federation (PSF) for University of Peshawar campus told Dawn that his organisation held regular sessions on various issues with their central leadership, but received no dictation. He said that being followers of non-violence philosophy of Bacha Khan, the PSF workers never involved in unhealthy activities and wanted a student-friendly environment on the campuses. Parents, he said, would never object students’ participation in politics if they remained committed to their future goals. Student unions should be restored for resolving numerous problems of students.
All the student leaders were found one voice on few points which could be summarised in a nutshell.
The intra- and inter-federation differences should be resolved preferably through mutual understanding. Students wanted violence-free campuses. They have grave problems of high tuition fee, transport, accommodation and substandard food on the campuses. Students’ issues could be resolved only if student unions are restored. Students needed healthy and positive activities in educational institutions. They were aspirants to be part of a significant change in the country.