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Say No To Student Unions

The most progressive, articulate, inspired and dynamic segment of a countrys

population is the student community. Students can be regarded as the future of any country. It
is quite general that good institutes produce good and shining students which later on prove
themselves good doctors, engineers, politicians etc. This is possible only when educational
institutes look like educational institutes. A lot of factors are there which are responsible for
destroying an academic environment in the institutes. And one of the most devastating factors
is the student unions which are working in the institutes.

The basic definition of a student is A person, who is enrolled in a school, college or

university, engaged in studies, attends classes and carefully examines something. And the basic
definition of a student union is A building on a college or a university campus used for student
activities, recreation and social and organizational meetings of the students. There is not a
single word of politics in these definitions. Unfortunately in Pakistan student unions work as the
student wings of the different political parties. These parties use them for their own gains and
all the illegal and rubbish activities of these unions are supported by them.

The history of the student unions in Pakistan goes to the creation of Pakistan. When
Pakistan came into existence there was only one established student union Muslim Student
Federation (MSF) which was actually the student wing of the ruling party Pakistan Muslim
League. With the passage of time when Muslim League started to disintegrate its student wing
also got splitted. Many student unions were formed and many student union alliances were also
formed. Student union has passed through many phases sometimes they faced a complete ban
and sometimes they enjoyed full freedom. In 1984 General Zia imposed a ban on these unions
and afterwards this ban was lifted by PPP Government. But in the Government of General
Pervaiz Musharaf their activities were again limited and in 2008 PM Yousaf Raza Gillani
announced to lift the ban from them.

The basic purpose of a student union is to represent and defend the rights and interests
of the students. The objectives are to promote the representational, educational, social and
general interests of the students. Student unions are formed for the welfare and betterment of
the students in the institutes. In other countries like USA and UK these unions do exist but they
solve the problems faced by the students regarding dues, admissions, hostel allotment etc. They
arrange recreational trips and excursions for the students. Debate competitions are also
arranged by them. Their primary objective is to benefit the student in any situation.
 If we look at these types of student unions, than it seems that its good to have student
unions in the institutes of Pakistan as well. But the actual point is that they arent politicized by
the republicans, democrats and conservatives. They are totally independent.

There is no violence created by those unions. They do not call for strikes on daily bases.
They do not destroy the educational environment and they also never affect the educational
activities in the campuses. Thats why their institutes are regarded as the best institutes around
the globe. Whereas in Pakistan where everything is crudely politicized and where grass root
level politics is divided on the basis of Biradari System, student unions became the tools in the
hands of bigger fishes who exploit them according to their own will and according to the
requirements and conditions.

In Pakistan, many student wings of political parties are working e.g. Islami Jammiat Talba
(IJT), Muslim Students Federation (MSF), Insaf Students Federation (ISF), Peoples Students
Federation (PSF), Pakhtoon Students Federation (PkSF) and All Pakistan Mutahidda Students
Organization (APMSO) are the student wings of Jamat-e-Islami, Pakistan Muslim League (N),
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Pakistan Peoples Party, Awami National Party and Mutahidda Qaumi
Movement respectively.Whenever a political party comes into the Govt. then its student wing
becomes active but IJT and APMSO are so strong that they managed to put a strong hold in
Punjab University Lahore and some institutes of SINDH respectively even in the era of the
opposite parties.

Political parties use these unions for their own benefits, student have become the
puppets dancing in the hands of politicians. They are used to disrupt the academic environment
and to promote a gun culture. The leaders of these unions are not less than any criminal or a
terrorist. Majority of them have completed their degree and are not willing to leave their
institute just for the sake of power that they enjoy while being a leader of the union.

The primary purpose of the student is to study. Due to these political student wings
students got distracted. They ignore their studies and think that copying is their right and
attendance is not a condition for them to appear in the examination. They spend much of their
time in strikes, creating violence, threatening others, clashes, misbehaving with teacher as well
as female students of the institute. They are so strong that even the administration of the
institutes is unable to control them. No law is implemented on them.

A lot of scandals have come into the electronic media in which these unions are involved
but no action has been taken against them, just because they have power and support of
political party. Many students have lost their lives during clashes of these unions filled with
blood that goes without check. Beating and killing of students has become quite general due to
their clashes.
The disadvantages of students entering politics outnumbered the advantages. Due to the
affiliation of the student unions with the political parties, the top level dirty politics is
implemented to the student level. The students who are part of these unions are not even close
to the academic level for which they join the college or university, killing the very reason for
which they were admitted. It is a grim reality that most of the students join these unions
because of the power these unions possess. The power that enables students to bully others
and get away with it, the power that allows them to pass the examination without having to
open the books and the power of weapons which they can use to demand respect for
themselves. It is just because they have entangled in the dirty game of politics. Political unions
teach students to put an end to all rules and regulations and they become rowdy, violent, nasty
and disobedient. These unions are funded by their respective political parties and ammunition is
also provided to them by the parties. Use of drugs in the hostels has become quite common in
those institutes where these unions exist. The environment of hostel is greatly disturbed due to
these unions and the other students living there feel it quite uncomfortable and disturbing.
When there is too much of booliganism entering in the educational institutes, even police is to
be called sometimes and there is utter disorder in the campus and even bullets find their way
among the students.

After studying the pros and cons of the students participation in politics, it is concluded
that disadvantages are more damaging than the gains acquired in the sequence. For all the
advantages students gain, can as well be achieved so in other ways and there is no need for
their entry in the politics.

Sir Sayed Ahmed Khan said the students should complete their education first and then
they should join politics. Students must stay away from politics and retain their interest in
studies which alone can help them steer the ships of their lives. Students have nothing to do
with the politics, they have to devote their full attention for their physical, mental, intellectual
and spiritual growth. Students should not follow the slogans and dogmas of the so-called
politicians who proclaim themselves to be their friends, well wishers and saviours. Due to this
affiliation they become more like gangsters instead of noble students working for the welfare
and grooming of the fellow students.

The indiscipline and unrest among the students prove that the modern politics has
totally failed to tackle their problems. The students should not be allowed to take active part in
politics. The fault does not lie with the students who are as delicate as the new branch of a new
plant; the fault lies with the politicians who try to use the young blood for the welfare of their
own party.

In the modern age and especially in the present scenario, will be the best thing for
students to say good bye to politics until they complete their education.

Students unions are a good notion if the purpose and the objective is to cultivate the civic
characteristics in the students but if we once again witness the bloody and nasty contention in
colleges and universities between PSF, MSF, PkSF, ISF, IJT, APMSO and other student wings then
it would be better if these unions stay banned.

The most important point is that the government should take action to free all the
educational institutes from the political power. Because of political influence, clashes take place
among the parties every other day in the educational institutes. There is a lot of political
indulgence in our institutes due to which students have to suffer. Thus the whole system has to
undergo a drastic change.

Student unions can serve and strengthen the cause of students in an academic institute.
It is not the right time for their revival. It is imperative that the system of education be
improved first in which education goes first rather than the power of dirty politics.

(KHURAM TABASSOM)