HEC’s directive to universities to follow the ideology of Pakistan has enraged academics and students
On the afternoon of October 26, several activists of Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, stormed at a stall representing Israel in the Model United Nations (MUN) summit at the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI).
The stall was part of a three-day Women’s International Model United Nations (WIMUN) event, arranged by the Faculty of Management Sciences at the University.
Everything was normal at the Israel stall till members of the female wing of Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba (IJT) attacked the stall and accused the students of supporting Zionism. This created scare and commotion among those present on the site.
Since then, there have been a number of public demonstrations, where Israeli flags have been burnt and any effort to portray Israeli culture through MUN stalls in Pakistan has been condemned.
In reaction, the Higher Education Commission (HEC), a government supervisory and grant giving authority to universities, through a directive warned universities and degree-awarding institutes to not challenge "the perspective of the government".
MUN is held regularly in universities the world over. It features committee sessions and debates similar to those of the UN, as well as social events like the Global Village, during which participants usually highlight the culture of the countries they represent -- to contribute to students’ knowledge about other people countries and cultures.
Following the controversy around the Israel stall, the HEC wrote a letter to the heads of all public and private universities, asking them to "remain very vigilant and forestall any activity that in any manner challenge(s) the ideology and ‘principles of Pakistan’, and/or perspective of the government of Pakistan".
Further, the letter reads: "Regretfully, it has been observed that a few activities that are directly or indirectly hosted or sponsored by universities include discussions, or presentations contrary to the ideology and principles of Pakistan. Perhaps due (to) the fact that program detailed are not reviewed and approved discretely by the universities. Such instances not only tarnish the image of an institution but fortify negativism and chaos."
This letter sent by HEC’s acting executive director Dr Mansoor Kundi has stirred a debate among the higher education institutes, academicians and students. They think the ill-drafted letter is meant to suppress the independent and open environment of universities.
In a letter sent to HEC, academician Isa Daudpota writes the Commission is essentially recommending censorship -- "Given the already suffocating intellectual environment on our campuses, the note will only strengthen those who wish to create a repressive atmosphere… Barring the few exceptions who survive with their curiosity and intellect unscathed, the vast majority of students leaving our universities have their critical thinking skills dulled. This flaw is intimately related to the lack of civilized open-ended dialogue and discussion on vital national and global issues in our institutions".
Dr Kundi finds the "negative reaction" to his directive quite surprising. He hinted the letter was ordered from the top and he had no role in it.
"We should work according to the ideology of Pakistan, which is very clear," he says, continuing, "Information about negative activities being held in some universities encouraged us to draft this letter."
When asked, whether musical shows are also against the ideology of the country, he says, "Yes, if there is dance and obscenity in the shows".
Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy, former professor at Quaid-e-Azam University and former visiting professor at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), says while talking to TNS that universities are supposed to be run in an open atmosphere - "A closed-minded society cannot be educated".
He adds the letter exposes a backward mindset and HEC must "apologise for the mistake."
Qamar Abbas, a former History teacher at Punjab University (PU) who opposed ideological injunctions in PU during the military regime of Ziaul Haq regime, says, "The letter reflects a specific mindset. We need to be clear about the ideology of Pakistan. Mullahs understanding of the ideology of Pakistan is contrary to Jinnah’s vision".
He adds universities never take dictations from the government and universities are free to follow a certain moral code. Such directives discourage creativity and independent thought process -- "Do we want to make our higher education institutes intellectual graveyards?" he asks.
"The letter is a joke," says Imran Ahmed, a postgraduate student at the Punjab University adding, "The universities are not a primary schools, where students are taught only a particular lesson or book."
Some students of LUMS, who have formed a democratic students group, think the letter is asking universities to police constructive debate and discussion. They term it an attack on intellectual freedom of the universities.
The group has circulated on social media a petition pressing the HEC to take the letter back. "We condemn and oppose the spirit of the recent HEC letter and request, instead, that the HEC renew a commitment to furthering the universally accepted principles of higher education which include debate, discourse and critical thinking among students and to articulate this commitment to the universities of Pakistan. Recognizing and giving space to opposing perspectives in all forms of debate is crucial as a means for teaching students the ability of thinking critically," the petition reads.
It is interesting to know that some time ago at the International Islamic University Islamabad, Dean of the Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences, issued a circular barring male teachers to enter the women’s staffroom, and vice versa, unless a written permission was granted by the dean. The Faculty is one of the largest departments in IIUI with over 100 teachers, where an informal segregation of male and female staff has always existed.