The National Students Federation (NSF) has started a campaign to reestablish student unions in educational institutions across the city. They were banned in 1984 by General Ziaul Haq.
An NSF organiser, Khurram Ali Nayyer, announced the launch of the “Movement for Restoration of Campus Democracy” at the press club on Friday. The movement aims to restore the democratic rights of students, including freedom of expression and the right to form student unions.
“Our plan was to start the movement from February 1 but since the ban was imposed on February 10, 1984, we have decided on the date February 10, 2012.” Nayyer said that the prime minister, Yousaf Raza Gilani, has announced an end to the ban, but the decision has yet to be implemented.
“Student organisations can create a ruckus, but not stand up for student rights,” he said. However, he invited all student organisations to join the movement.
“The NSF does not have the same strength or number of members as before, but it still has volunteers who can compete with the governing class.” Nayyer said that the federation, organised in less than a year, is active in 10 Sindh districts and 23 Punjab districts. The NSF lawyers are preparing a case on campus democracy which will be filed soon.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 11th, 2012.
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