Prime Minister Imran Khan finally talked about student unions in Pakistan.
On Friday, Pakistani students and even professionals all across the country have been holding demonstrations against the government to reinstate student unions which have been banned for several decades. While the government did not make any official recognition of the marches, Imran Khan did finally tweet on the topic of student unions.
The movement has been gaining momentum for some time now. The student march was organized by people to make use of the same.
Universities groom future leaders of the country & student unions form an integral part of this grooming. Unfortunately, in Pakistan universities' student unions became violent battlegrounds & completely destroyed the intellectual atmosphere on campuses.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 1, 2019
We will establish a comprehensive & enforceable code of conduct, learning from the best practices in internationally renowned universities, so that we can restore & enable student unions to play their part in positively grooming our youth as future leaders of the country.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 1, 2019
There were some who praised the Prime Minister and his response. People saw how he had given a neutral response and appreciated it.
There should be strict rules in the universities to control such activities of the students’ unions.
— Shahjhan Malik (@shahjhan_malikk) December 1, 2019
I totally agree with you.
— Saira (@SairaRz) December 1, 2019
A lot of people seemed to agree that student unions could not be reinstated without a ‘proper code of conduct’ being defined for them
Agree with @ImranKhanPTI Formation of Students Unions without code of ethics will be a disaster
— Eng. Shafiq Maitla (@EngShafiqMaitla) December 1, 2019
But there were many others who did not agree with this, and were disappointed in Prime Minister Imran Khan’s stance on the entire issue. People pointed out that student unions are not solely to blame.
student unions are not at fault for the sordid state of our education system and instigation of on-campus violence. blasphemy laws, campus militarisation and administrative corruption has played direct roles in crippling intellectual calibre and fostering fundamentalist thinking. https://t.co/ESWdIOxvAQ
— zainab syed (@zaysyed) December 1, 2019
Others called it hypocrisy
Check this stupid. His party introduce PTI student wing in all schools, collages and universities so he become a PM and today he is saying this 👇 https://t.co/3RJ1a8IXSJ
— Quayam Khan (@AQuayamKhan) December 1, 2019
they didn’t become violent, like many ‘terrorists’ this country has CREATED, students eventually retaliated. establishment feels threatened by people who raise their voice against injustice. and u always believe they’re being violent so u have an excuse to shut them up. https://t.co/pLvPrHIvLF
— spaceship (@spaceshipIII) December 1, 2019
Some brought up old tweets by Imran Khan which talked about bans on student unions being completely uncalled for.
While Prime Minister Imran Khan did not completely dismiss the idea of student unions being reinstated, it seems like his vague promise on working on a code of conduct to help reinstating them did not go down well with many.
What do you think about student unions being reinstated? Let us know in the comments below.
Here’s What The Student Solidarity March Means To Me As A Young Pakistani Woman
A Man Just Tried To Criticize The Aurat March And Here’s Why I’m Calling Bullshit
Cover Image Via: @imrankhanpti via Twitter.com/tollywood.net