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Students in Pakistan Demand Right to Form Unions

Ayesha Tanzeem

   ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN - Thousands of Pakistani students marched in
   demonstrations spanning the country Friday demanding the right to once
   again form student unions, which was taken away in 1984 by military
   dictator Zia ul-Haq.

   The march in dozens of cities, backed by parents of students and civil
   society activists, received messages of support from several political
   leaders.
   "The spirit of activism and yearning for peaceful democratic process
   from a new generation of students is truly inspiring," tweeted Bilawal
   Bhutto Zardari, son of slain prime minister Benazir Bhutto and the
   current leader of the Pakistan People's Party.
   He added that his mother's efforts to lift the ban were thwarted in
   order to "depoliticize society." In 1989, Bhutto reversed the ban, but
   her decision was challenged in court.
   Lawyer and human rights activist Jibran Nasir said the Supreme Court in
   1993 ruled that the ban on political activities on campus should be
   subject to periodic review, which never happened.
   A senior leader of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek e-Insaaf party, Chaudhry
   Fawad Hussain, also tweeted in favor of the march.
   "I fully support Restoration of students unions, ban on students unions
   is anti democratic," he said.
   Students in Islamabad said they welcomed his tweet but wished his
   government would follow it up with legislation to help them.

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