After remaining inactive for almost three-and-a-half decades, the People’s Student Federation (PSF), a student wing of the Pakistan People’s Party, is now reviving and resolving educational and other issues of students.
People’s Student Federation University President Mahtab Ali Zeeshan Soomro told Jarida Today in an interview that the ban on student unions in the late 1980s was a major reason for the inactivity of student bodies. He explained that when the ban was lifted by the then prime minister Benazir Bhutto in 1989, the People’s Student Federation won the union elections at the Punjab University.
He vowed to continue the revival efforts as envisioned by the three leaders who played key roles in making it possible. He said that student leaders Sibte Hassan, Mansoor Ahmed Kataria, and Junaid Dogar had revitalized the dormant student union at the Punjab University. “The People’s Student Federation and its passion were dormant for a long time, but the organization was never dead,” he said.
Paying tribute to the trio for their efforts in bringing the People’s Student Federation back to life at the Punjab University, he said, “it’s important to recognize that young leaders like Sibte Hassan, Mansoor Kataria, and Junaid Dogar played an important role in this revival, which wouldn’t have been possible without their tireless efforts.”
Mahtab Ali Soomro pays tribute to Sibte Hassan, Mansoor Ahmed Kataria and Junaid Dogar for the revival of PSF in Punjab University
Despite the challenges, Mahtab Soomro said the first People’s Student Federation cabinet was announced in 2023, and the second one began functioning in March 2024. Now, the student union is organizing a registration drive for the upcoming intra-body elections – the first since 1989. “More than 500 members have been registered so far,” he said.
Discussing the structure of the People’s Student Federation, he explained that the university’s 74 departments had been divided into four major zones, each headed by a vice president. He noted that union’s leadership includes a president, senior vice presidents, a general secretary, and heads of various subcommittees.
“We are particularly active in 33 departments. Full cabinets have been established there, with each headed by a president and consisting of a general secretary, an information secretary, and an in-charge of study circles,” the young leader said. Recently, this union inaugurated the People’s Reader Club and organized study circles for the intellectual growth of its members and other university students.
People’s Student Federation Information Secretary Ahmad Hassan told Jarida Today that the union announces an admission committee at the start of each academic session, consisting of students from major cities. He said the committee members were responsible for assisting students from their respective areas throughout the admission process. “We maintain various physical and virtual groups dedicated to providing information and support to students,” he said.
He pointed out a significant issue regarding hostel allotments. “The Hall Council of the Punjab University recently announced that new students will not be allotted hostel accommodations,” he said, calling this a serious concern for students who rely on campus housing. He mentioned that many hostel rooms had been illegally occupied by members of certain ethnic groups, who had taken over around 80 percent of the rooms.
“However, the People’s Student Federation has not resorted to such practices. We always strive to resolve issues legally,” he said. PSF Senior Vice President Abdul Rahman Rahmani told Jarida Today that the university administration had behaved inappropriately towards the union. Recently, the director of student affairs refused to discuss students’ rights, and the vice chancellor even had PSF members removed from his office, he said.
“When we protested, the director finally invited us for a discussion, but this incident showed how the administration treats newcomers,” he remarked. PSF General Secretary Sher Ali Abbasi criticized the clerical staff at the Punjab University, calling their behavior a form of ‘persecution’ for new students. “Students can forget about any help from the staff until and unless they have ‘connections’ with certain ethnic or ‘political’ groups,” he said.
In response to a question, Mahtab Soomro acknowledged the difficulties the People’s Student Federation had been facing, but stressed the importance of following the legal path, regardless of the challenges. It is pertinent to mention here that student unions played an important role in shaping Pakistan’s political environment.
Before partition, various student bodies played an active part in garnering support for the creation of Pakistan. Afterwards, they engaged in political activism and often became the voice of resistance against autocratic regimes. However, they became heavily politicized over time, as political parties formed their own student wings.
This led to campuses often turning into battlegrounds, especially during general elections. Military ruler General Zia-ul-Haq banned the student unions in 1984 and justified it by saying that the unions had become too intertwined with national politics and usually resulted in violence and disruption of academic life.
Now, after more than three decades, opponents fear that the on-campus violence would be reignited with the re-establishment of the student unions, especially if they are again used as proxies for political parties or ethnic or religious groups.