Sindh formulating bill to restore student unions, says Murtaza Wahab

The chief minister’s law adviser said on Monday that the Sindh government has started formulating legislation to restore student unions in colleges and universities across the province.

Addressing a news conference at the Sindh Assembly, Barrister Murtaza Wahab said that the bill to restore student unions in the province will soon be tabled in the provincial legislature. He said that efforts are under way to revive the institution of student unions all the over the province.

Wahab said the provincial government will introduce a mechanism to regulate the functioning of student unions in the province keeping in view the charter, aims and objectives of different unions.

“We will do effective legislation in this connection. The Sindh government will fully assist the student unions keeping in view their demands,” added the adviser. He said that student unions were banned in the country during the previous dictatorial regime, adding that the political and academic process at educational institutions later slowed down.

He also said that it was the policy of the dictatorial regime of the past to depoliticise educational institutions so as to deter students from joining politics later in life. “Doing so was helpful in promoting leadership comprising non-political elements.”

Wahab, who is also the spokesman for the provincial government, said that the decision to restore student unions will prove to be a milestone in the history of Sindh. He said that the leadership of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) ruling in the province fully supports the demand of making student unions wholly functional.

He also said that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in particular completely supports the cause of student politics because it is the students who have to take over the reins of the country.

“If students are given the chance to participate in political activities, they will receive much support to understand the socio-political issues concerning their future,” he added. The statement from the law adviser comes in the wake of Friday’s rallies that were held across the country in support of the demand to restore student unions in colleges as well as the other long-denied rights of students.

In a series of tweets a day earlier Prime Minister Imran Khan also hinted at the revival of student unions across the country after devising a proper code of conduct for the grooming of students as future leaders.