KARACHI: The Federal Urdu University of Arts, Sciences & Technology (FUAAST) has stirred controversy by announcing a ban on student organizations’ activities, as revealed by the interim registrar of the university on Wednesday.
According to the notification, student organisations are prohibited from organising any educational or non-educational events at FUAAST. Furthermore, the notification warned that students found violating these orders would risk immediate cancellation of their admissions.
The decision has sparked condemnation from affected parties, including student organizations like the Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba (IJT) and Peoples Student Federation (PSF).
Basiq Nadeem, a spokesperson for the IJT, criticised the move, labeling it a “misguided approach” that fails to address the university’s underlying issues. He stressed the importance of student representation in advocating for student rights and interests.
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Similarly, a PSF spokesperson denounced the ban as “undemocratic” and an “expression of dictatorial ideology” against student organisations striving for democracy, transparency, and justice. The PSF demanded the immediate withdrawal of the ban, warning of potential protests if the decision is not reversed.
This ban on student organisations comes after a similar move by the University of Karachi in January, following clashes between student groups on its premises. Despite the Sindh Assembly’s unanimous passage of a bill to restore student unions across the province’s educational institutions in February 2022, their formation has yet to be realized.
