KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Friday unanimously passed a bill for the restoration of student unions across the educational institutions of the province.
The Sindh Students Union Bill, 2019, got the nod after the provincial assembly’s standing committee on law recently approved the bill to restore the unions in educational institutions after a gap of nearly four decades.
According to the bill, a student union will be formed in every private and government educational institute. The bill further stated that enrolled students will be able to vote for the student union or take part in it.
As per the bill, the number of student representatives in an educational institute shall remain between seven to 11 and they would be elected through the election process every year. The union will have representation in the institute’s syndicate, senate, and anti-harassment committee, the bill added.
“After approval of the bill, the educational institutes will be bound to devise rules and regulations for the student union elections within two months,” the bill stated, noting that no student would be allowed to use or keep weapons on campus.
“The revival of students union will certainly pave the way for a healthy and conducive environment for social and cultural interaction among communities,” the text of the bill read.
It has been 38 years since former military ruler General Zia-ul-Haq barred students from assembling on university and college campuses to demand their rights.
Chief minister shares thoughts on bill
Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah, speaking on the floor of the house after the bill’s passage, said a dictator had placed a ban on the students union — which plays a major role in grooming students.
“Jamaat-e-Islami supported us a lot in the regard. Other Opposition parties also backed the bill,” the chief minister said as he reminisced his days as a student. “We will not, in any way, allow the unions to affect or suspend educational activities on campus,” he stressed.
