Punjab

Students on the streets

Students in Faisalabad continue protests for third day against the privatisation of educational institutes.

Express December 10, 2010

FAISALABAD:

The joint action committee (JAC) formed in various colleges, against the formation of board of governors has announced its intention to go on strike and boycott classes on December 10 and 11.

The JAC also announced plans to protest outside the Punjab Assembly on January 8. JAC chairman, Prof Riazul Haq, and information secretary, Jalal Usmani, said that they would boycott classes in all colleges today and tomorrow and also hold protests. The students and teachers said that the next protest would be on a large scale and that the government should take strict action against the officials who had tortured students and teachers. Meanwhile, in Multan police officials who tortured protesting students were reprimanded. The students of various colleges presented a memorandum to the director of colleges in protest of the privatisation policies. Students said that on Thursday, five people in white clothes had stopped them and beaten them with sticks during their protest. “This was when the students flared up and began vandalising public property,” said a college guard Latif.

Pakistan student federation (PSF) divisional president, Arif Shah, said, “We thought the men were members of the director of colleges office and said we wished for a peaceful protest.” “We wanted to present a memorandum to the college officials but the men attacked us,” he said. Maki Shah, Ahsan, Pervez Khan, Laiqat and Asim Khan were severely injured during the protests but the accused escaped the scene.

“We submitted an application against the director of colleges but police are not taking any action,” Shah said.

Police officials said that they had registered a case.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 11th, 2010.

COMMENTS (7)

MAS | 13 years ago | Reply After reading advertisements and policy statements of Punjab govt. you all should know that it’s not privatization but financial/administrative autonomy of colleges which will give quality education to poor students; but it’s unacceptable to powerful edu-barons of private sector in Lahore, who are sponsoring this tirade which is in fact against the poor strata. so students should welcome this step and avoid agitation.

Ahmer Ali | 13 years ago | Reply Assalam-o-Allaikum Warahmatullah.The present corrupt and NRO certified government is showing effrontery by privatizing the educational institutions instead of: 1.Increasing educational standards of Pakistan according to the international educational standard, 2.Spending more and more money on researchers and advanced research works, 3.Producing and appointing highly qualified teachers and professors having masters,specialized and Ph.D degrees, 4.Stopping and elevating plagiarism and 5.Promoting books and library culture in the colleges and universities. I don't know why every thing is being privatized by the present government.Don't our corrupt leaders have highly qualified staff and employees to run the profitable departments and educational institutions?If they are so unable and incapable to run the departments and educational institutions then why did they take oath and sworn in for the welfare and betterment of Pakistan and the nation?They all have to resign from their key posts.Why they have forgotten that when English men entered Indian Sub-continent for trade and when they saw that now they have been good enough then they invaded Indian Sub-continent and as a consequence of it 1857 freedom war was conducted amongst the Muslims,Hindus and English men.How many departments and educational institutions have been privatized in China and India?Do they need commission by privatizing key departments and educational institutions?Shame,curse and woe be on the present corrupt and NRO certified leaders.

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inam ur rehman | 13 years ago | Reply shame on punjab police and goverment for beeting the teachers and students

Ishaq Jangua | 13 years ago | Reply Even the CJ cannot touch the holly cows.

Murtaza Ali Jafri | 13 years ago | Reply Is the venerable Chief Justice going to take notice of the unruly nature of the protests? Obviously his car wasn't torched.

aqib | 13 years ago | Reply It is bad because some poor but intelligent student can get education if the fees structure is very high. It means that government of Pakistan actually lost their brilliant Doctor & Engineer. Please please don't done it for the actual student of Pakistan who actually Loved it. I hope government take some serious action.

Syed Nadir El-Edroos | 13 years ago | Reply Students across the globe are protesting against state policies regarding education. The privatization of education is a quick way for the government to cut budgetary expenditure while protecting certain "holy cows". Its a shame that their isn't a ground well of support for these students from wider civil society. Just goes to show how disconnected many have become from public services.

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