QAU syndicate decides to lift ban on students union

ISLAMAB AD: A decision as on Friday taken at the meeting of the Quadi-e-Azam University (QAU) syndicate to restore students union on the campus.

Most importantly, the meeting was attended by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Qazi Faez Isa as a member of the syndicate. The meeting was chaired by QAU Vice Chancellor Prof Niaz Akhter.

The meeting also decided to form a committee to formulate rules and regulations for the political activities of the students after restoring the student union.  Sources said the committee will be headed by Secretary Education Wasim Ajmal.

The sources also said that the chief justice expressed displeasure over the presence of armed Rangers, police and security guards and said the campus should be cleared of weapons and drugs.

He also told the meeting that the students union should be non-political and have no sectarian, religious or ethnic affiliations. He said initially, students union was allowed under the rules of the QAU but later during the martial law of Gen Zia the provision was abolished.

The chief justice of Pakistan asked the QAU management not to allow anyone to interfere in the affairs of the university and also keep agencies away from the campus, adding efforts should be made to promote the standard of education.

Pakistan has vibrant history of student politics. Students were actively participating in students’ union elections and played important role in looking after interests of students. In 1984, however, student unions were banned by the Ziaul Haq dictatorship.