IIUI rector changeup: ‘Higher learning institutes should not be run on foreign diktats’
Educators, scholars outraged by alleged influence of foreign envoy.
ISLAMABAD:
Concern and outrage sum up the reactions of notable scholars and educators over the alleged interference of a foreign nation in the policies of Pakistan’s educational institutes.
Islamic International University Islamabad (IIUI) Rector Fateh Muhammad Malik took indefinite ex-Pakistan leave last week, allegedly due to pressure from the Saudi Ambassador for his removal. Scholars on Sunday said educational institutions are the key to build a progressive society and there should not be interference from any country, be it Saudi Arabia, Iran or the US.
“Our educational policies should be sovereign and sans the dictations of any foreign forces,” said Iftikhar Arif, a renowned scholar and poet.
He said that nobody should order us which school of Islam to follow or what syllabus should be in our institutions.
“Professor Fateh Malik is a true Muslim and does not need the certification of any party or country as he follows the religion of Prophet Muhammad and the philosophies of Iqbal and Quaid-i-Azam,” he added. He added that both Iran and Saudi Arabia are brotherly countries that Pakistan respects, and they should in turn respect our sovereignty as far as our policies are concerned.
Writer Ashfaq Saleem Mirza said that being a sovereign country, we should not accept any dictation to formulate our educational policies or other issues.
He condemned the entire system for being polluted by external interference “whether it is foreign policy, security policy or even tax policy”.
Writer Harris Khalique said, “Historically, the Indo-Gangetic civilisation had largely resolved the long-standing sectarian conflicts in the subcontinent, which Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia and Iran have not been able to do.” He added that the proxy Saudi Arabia-Iran war in the past two decades has resulted in the current sectarian strife and violence in Pakistan.
“Educational institutions are the key to building societies and nations and should be freed from foreign interference and from the menace of sectarianism,” he said.
He suggested that IIUI be set on modern lines by changing its charter in view of the changing scenario. “[IIUI] is the only university in the country where there are segregated campuses for men and women. Despite that, there were deadly suicide bombings [orchestrated by religious extremists] there,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 14th, 2012.
Concern and outrage sum up the reactions of notable scholars and educators over the alleged interference of a foreign nation in the policies of Pakistan’s educational institutes.
Islamic International University Islamabad (IIUI) Rector Fateh Muhammad Malik took indefinite ex-Pakistan leave last week, allegedly due to pressure from the Saudi Ambassador for his removal. Scholars on Sunday said educational institutions are the key to build a progressive society and there should not be interference from any country, be it Saudi Arabia, Iran or the US.
“Our educational policies should be sovereign and sans the dictations of any foreign forces,” said Iftikhar Arif, a renowned scholar and poet.
He said that nobody should order us which school of Islam to follow or what syllabus should be in our institutions.
“Professor Fateh Malik is a true Muslim and does not need the certification of any party or country as he follows the religion of Prophet Muhammad and the philosophies of Iqbal and Quaid-i-Azam,” he added. He added that both Iran and Saudi Arabia are brotherly countries that Pakistan respects, and they should in turn respect our sovereignty as far as our policies are concerned.
Writer Ashfaq Saleem Mirza said that being a sovereign country, we should not accept any dictation to formulate our educational policies or other issues.
He condemned the entire system for being polluted by external interference “whether it is foreign policy, security policy or even tax policy”.
Writer Harris Khalique said, “Historically, the Indo-Gangetic civilisation had largely resolved the long-standing sectarian conflicts in the subcontinent, which Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia and Iran have not been able to do.” He added that the proxy Saudi Arabia-Iran war in the past two decades has resulted in the current sectarian strife and violence in Pakistan.
“Educational institutions are the key to building societies and nations and should be freed from foreign interference and from the menace of sectarianism,” he said.
He suggested that IIUI be set on modern lines by changing its charter in view of the changing scenario. “[IIUI] is the only university in the country where there are segregated campuses for men and women. Despite that, there were deadly suicide bombings [orchestrated by religious extremists] there,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 14th, 2012.