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.
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All the allegations levelled against Fateh Muhammed Malik are baseless. He promoted tolerance and respected diversity of views. He upheld merit and gave teachers the respect that they deserve. There were many people against him because we would not listen to anyone while appointing the faculty because he believes in merit being the only criterion for selection. Many hardcore religious groups particularly Islami Jamiat Talba were against him for obvious reasons. I think this is a dangerous trend and if Fateh Muhammed Malik has to go it will be very very unfortunate. I have worked with Fateh Muhammed Malik and I have found him to be very honest, straightforward, visionary, competent, learned, sympathetic, loving and progressive. I wish him best of luck. If he leaves, the university, once again, will be left at the mercy of closed minded and ignorant fanatic groups like Islami Jamiat Talba...
Prof. Malik is a progressive and liberal scholar. He changed the suffocated environment of university. He took affirmative action and brought womenfolks on the front, introduced constructive criticism and promoted dialouge which is a pre-requisite for any intellectual discourse. This to some close minded sect of students couldn't digest and used a foeign Ambassador's intervention, which is very sad.
What dark period are you talking about? students were learning to appreciate literature , art , culture as well practicing islam at IIUI.A step towards a more cultured , tolerant and deradicalized society. Prof. Malik, is a well reputed intellectual , academic and true to core muslim who does not any certificate of authentification from pseudo intellectuals and naam kay muslims. If peer mohammad is presenting one perspective then the above comments are presenting the other one , whereas the the truth lies in between. Question : If the tenure was so dark and full of incompetence , then why did the Saudi mission perceived it as a threat?does liberation of young muslim minds from the cluthes of suffocating Saudi brand of islamization bothers them to this level? Pity !
This is a positive change and Professor Malik is trying to give a political twist. In fact he failed to do anything positive for this great seat of learning. He was a Rector but kept on interfering in all administrative issues and dumped so many incompetent people in the university that now God knows when we will be able to get rid of them. His other achievements are also well known and I will request this reporter to go and ask ordinary students and faculty members. Peer Muhammad is clearly reporting only one perspective. His yesterday report was also quite biased.
I ask Mr. Iftikhar Arif and Mr Mirza that how many times have you visited the IIUI campus. Although the interference is condemnable by all means it is indeed nice to see a person who had taken the IIUI to the brink of destruction gone. Professor Malik's era at IIUI would be remembered as one of dark times at IIUI when nepotism, incompetency, internal politics and adhocism ruled the roost. As a student of IIUI I welcome this change and hope it would lead our University towards progress and development