Talk:National Students Federation

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Taliban and torture chambers at Punjab University

Pakistani women fight back against fundamentalism

Women at the Punjab University in Pakistan have launched a movement against the Islam Janmiat Talba (IJT), the student organisation affiliated to the fundamentalist Jamaat Islami..

This started with protests on May 2 and May 5 in immediate response to a physical attack on a male Philosophy student, Ijaz Butt, by fundamentalist thugs. His supposed "crime" was talking to a young woman.

This was not the first assault by the Taliban. Punjab University is mini-Afghanistan ruled by the IJT.

On April 29 IJT thugs beat up male History students because they were sitting with women from their department watching a student cricket match. Meantime, the IJT prevented English students organising a farewell party for graduates at a nearby hotel, on the grounds that students might enjoy ‘immoral fun’.

A month before this, some men from the Education Department were set upon at a restaurant outside the university campus. They were with women classmates to celebrate the birthday of a fellow student.

Female and male students cannot talk together or sit together at libraries, canteens or cafes. The IJT has stopped it through force, backed up by guns, so for a long time nobody dared resist them.

The fundamentalists take these violent actions and intimidate people under the banner of Islam. They claim that mixed activities are un-Islamic.

In the late 1960s and 1970s the Punjab University had a strong left tradition. The National Students Federation was the main left force, not only in the Punjab University but throughout Pakistan.

But in 1977, military dictatorship was imposed in the country. Jamaat Islami was hand in glove with the military dictator General Zia. Left wing political parties, unions and student organisations were the prime target of the military regime.

Zia used the Jamaat Islami thugs to root out and eliminate socialists in the trade unions. The bully boys of IJT were used to attack, kill and eliminate socialists from the campuses.

In early 80s, Punjab University was a prime target of the regime. It was the biggest university, with about ten thousand students who were fighting back against the military dictatorship. The teaching staff were also active in opposing the regime.

Meanwhile, Pakistan had become a military base camp of CIA against USSR intervention in Afghanistan. Campuses became a nursery for the recruitment of so called Mujahideen to send them in Afghanistan and IJT was the chief recruiting agency.

In 1983 union activities were banned by the regime. When democracy was restored in 1988 elections were held at campuses but in 1990, Nawaz Sharif again banned student and trade union activities. But in practice the ban is only for those who do not have guns – the Taliban are free to organise.

Punjab University is the role model that IJT presents across the whole of Pakistan where education is taught according to Islamic values. But using the veil of religion the IJT is able to claim many benefits for itself and its supporters.

The Punjab University provides jobs to thousands of IJT youth. It is a recruiting group for people who go on to become Jamaat Islami activists. It is a refuge for absconders, as police do not dare enter the campuses. In 1992 police entered the campus to end a protest, and as a result, lost a cop who was gunned down by IJT .

IJT has on-campus torture cells where anybody daring to violate their so-called code of ethics is tortured. At Punjab University campus IJT is widely hated, yet it maintains power because the entire administration is in its control.

Since 1977, 90 per cent of teachers recruited in the university belong to IJT. That is why they are most obedient servants of IJT instead of the college. Other staff are also recruited on the recommendation of IJT.

On May 2 about 60 women from the departments of English, Philosophy, Education, Geography and History took to the streets. They marched to the Vice Chancellor’s office to protest. about IJT excesses (One wonders if he did not know in advance)

The demo was unprecedented. Never in the recent history of Punjab University had anyone dared challenge the IJT’s gun-toting thugs.

This really infuriated the IJT. Next day they beat up male Philosophy students. On May 5 the IJT thugs held a demo outside the Philosophy Department, chanting "long live Jamiat". The women left their lecture to come and start chanting "Down with Jamiat".

Three bourgeois newspapers published the news of May 2. These were not displayed on newspaper stands on campus on May 5 and in some hostels, they were only available with the controversial articles cut out. This shows the absolute control of IJT.

The women are not ready to sit idle. "We will not tolerate Talibanisaton of Punjab university", said one History student.

Although it is not easy to fight Jamiat, it is necessary to do so, with commitment coupled with good strategy.

Ending the Talibanisaton of Punjab University will be a big step forward for Pakistan, and particularly for the women who suffer most at the hands of religious fanatics. A successful struggle at Punjab University will show a way forward to the women of Pakistan.