Campus clashes - Jamshoro Sindh

It is unsettling that Pakistan's universities are once more emerging as hot spots of violence and confrontation. Last week proved to be a particularly bad one in that respect. On Aug 7, the Jeay Sindh Students Federation-A clashed with the Sindh People's Students Federation at the MUET campus (Jamshoro) resulting in the death of a JSSF leader and the suspension of exams and classes. Three days later, Punjab University became the scene of clashes between the Islami Jamiat Tulaba and the university staff on the issue of setting up admission stalls. There was a dispute between the two parties in both the cases. But more significant than that was the method adopted by the student leaders in addressing their differences. On neither ocassion was a serious effort made to resolve the dispute by talking it over and reaching a compromise. Worse still, the rival groups pulled out weapons and sticks and resorted to physical violence. In Sindh, disciplinary measures have now been taken to restore peace.

There are several factors behind the violence. Students unions have still to be fully restored and various student organisations have not been allowed to function in a democratic and regulated framework where they could learn to operate with a sense of responsibility. Moreover, all the student bodies are closely linked with and influenced, even controlled, by political parties. Thus the students tend to be exploited by political parties seeking to expand their base in the student population. While all this is bad enough, the university administrations make matters worse by taking sides. Their failure to maintain their neutrality and adopt an even-handed approach encourages the side being favoured to become more aggressive. This only exacerbates the crisis.