SMIU locked down for Bilawal’s visit

CM, PPP chairperson attend inauguration of varsity’s renovated senate hall

KARACHI: Sindh Madrassatul Islam University (SMIU) was transformed into a high alert security zone on Friday during the inauguration of the varsity’s new senate hall.

There was heavy deployment of police, Rangers, Special Security Unit commandos and private security at the varsity for chief guest and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. According to the security officer, the media was a threat to the young politician.

More than 20 vice-chancellors of public and private universities throughout the province attended the event but no one, not students, faculty members, the VCs, members of the statuary bodies or academicians, were allowed to bring their mobile phones into the hall due to security concerns. Addressing the participants of the event, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said education is the key to development and quality can only be delivered by working within the system. Pakistan should be a nation where the younger generation are well aware of the challenges that they face in the competitive and fast-paced world and focus on obtaining education and knowledge, he said.  Shah added that the youth must explore different avenues of learning and growth, which will lead to the creation of a progressive Pakistan.



This is a revolutionary time, which is bringing changes in lifestyles, the way people communicate and interact with each other, he said. "We are faced with dangerous extremist ideologies but we think that these issues are not pertinent to us or to the discussion of education," Shah lamented.

He recalled how these elements of extremist ideologies led to the lynching of student Mashal Khan by his own peers on mere rumours of blasphemy.

Endorsing Shah's view, Bilawal said extremists want people to be divided on the basis of religion and culture but this will not be allowed. Teachers have a vital role and they are the ones who share their knowledge and wisdom with students, he said, adding that today the role of the educator is more important than any other time in Pakistan's history. "As we fight an extremist mind-set within and outside our borders, it is up to our teachers to impart to their students the true ideals of tolerance," he suggested.

Encouraging the role of the youth, he said that history is witness to the pivotal role played by the youth in nation building. "Our independence fight can largely be attributed to the irreplaceable agitation by young people fighting for liberty," said Bilawal, adding that the only way for the country to move forward is to excel in every field, be it education, health, technology or media.



The PPP chairperson commented on the role of teachers and said if teachers keep placing importance on rote learning then the country will be deprived of a nation of thinkers. We must be a nation of participants, not just observers to make Pakistan a sustainable democracy, he cautioned.

Bilawal visited the campus, viewed the facilities provided at the varsity, delivered a lecture at the Shah Nawaz Bhutto auditorium and then inaugurated the senate hall, which has been renovated and digitalised. The hall has a video conferencing facility for international lectures with a capacity of 50 people.

After the inauguration, Bilawal also held a brief meeting at senate hall with all the VCs, statutory body members and other official guests. Speaking to the media after the meeting, he said cheating will not be tolerated at any level and instructed the CM to make sure cheating in examinations is controlled.



Shah said that all the officials or teachers to be involved in cheating at the examination boards will be dealt with strictly, adding that the Counter Terrorism Department is investigating the matter.