SC seeks detailed report on student unions

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Constitutional Bench Wednesday sought a detailed report from the committee formed to determine the procedure for restoring student unions.

A five-member constitutional bench — headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan — heard the case against the ban on student unions.

Additional Attorney General Aamir Rehman told the court that the government had formed a committee for this purpose, which has also submitted an interim report.

Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar remarked that in the past, all university students had political wings and emphasized that the new procedure should ensure the students were affiliated only with their respective universities.

Justice Mazhar noted that private universities did not face such issues, but public universities did. He further clarified that forming a student welfare association was different from becoming a wing of a political party, warning that political wings would bring political flags into universities.

Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan noted that, regrettably, even institutions had become political wings, and this trend was now evident in bar councils and associations.

Later, the court adjourned hearing for date-in-office (indefinite period) after seeking a detailed report from the government-formed committee.

Similarly, the same bench sought replies from the KP and Sindh governments on pleas seeking making the Holy Quran education mandatory in educational institutions.

Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi commented that in Sindh, Islamic Studies and Nazra were taught from the first period in early education, which was also the case 55 years ago.

Justice Aminuddin Khan noted that KP and Sindh had yet to submit their replies and directed them to do so.

Later, the court after giving time to the KP and Sindh governments for submitting their respective replies adjourned the hearing for date-in-office (indefinite period).