Dr Aasim Sajjad Akhtar delivered a lecture on student organisations and politics in Pakistan at the Institute of Peace and Secular Studies on Tuesday which was attended by students, teachers and members of civil society.
The lecture was organised in light of the interest shown by youth in PTI’s rally. The lecture aimed to discuss the prospects of youth and students in bringing about social and political change.
“The youth need to indulge in the romance of bringing about a change,” said Dr Akhtar, who teaches at the Pakistan Studies Department at Quaid-i-Azam University. Dr Akhtar claimed that the environment for political growth is better in the current era. In the past, he said, victimisation often discouraged people from affiliating with any political ideology.
Raheemul Haque from the Centre of Public Policy and Governance at Foreman Christian College posed a query regarding the differences in political activity amongst college and university students. Dr Akhtar said there was greater political activity in college students. “Besides being in greater strength than university students, college students have more heightened emotional and ideological affiliations,” he said.
Dr Akhtar said that there was a lot of space for the youth to step forward and bring about positive change. He added that there there was a need to encourage youth to tackle issues head on instead of just criticising the current political system.
“There has to be a focused effort by students and the youth to take on an active role that can eventually lead to political growth in the country,” Dr Akhtar said.
In response to Abdul Rehman, a political science student, regarding what student organisations can do to influence the curriculum, Dr Akhtar said while there were several constraints in this regard, there was a dire need to correct the history syllabi. Asadullah, a student of mass communications said, “I think it would be better for students to first address students’ issues before identifying with a certain political ideology.”
Abdul Aijaz, a teacher at Government College University asked Dr Akhtar why student representatives were not part of university syndicates. Dr Akhtar, who is currently associated with the Workers Party, said students should initially try to organise student bodies that deal with student issues which would ultimately help them evolve politically. “I believe students need to be integrated into politics,” he added.
Dr Akhtar ended the lecture by stressing that the youth need to fill the ‘political space’ that is currently available. “You cannot expect the previous generations to rethink their political ideology or affiliation, a decision the youth has yet to make,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 23rd, 2011.
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