Student unions restored in Sindh

Student unions were banned in during of General Zia-ul-Haq’s regime in 1984

Speaking on the floor of the assembly after the adoption of the Bill, Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, thanked Opposition parties for lending support to pass the Bill.

The Sindh Assembly has unanimously adopted an historical Bill to pave the way to restore the student unions in universities and colleges of the province after 38 years.

With the adoption of the Sindh Students Union Bill2019, Sindh has become the first province in the country to adopt the legislation for the revival of the elected student unions in educational institutions.

The student unions in the country were banned in 1984 during the military regime of General Zia-ul-Haq when the law and order situation in the universities and colleges deteriorated due to frequent clashes between rival factions of the students. The newly passed law requires universities, their constituent and affiliated colleges, both in the public and private sectors, to establish the student unions.

Fight against harassment

The educational institutions will elect the student unions comprising of seven to 11 members. A representative of the student union will get representation on the highest statutory body of the university like the syndicate or the governing board. The new law also envisages setting up a committee to deal with the cases of harassment on the campuses against female students.

The Standing Committee of the Sindh Assembly on Law & Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights duly reviewed the draft of the Bill for the revival of the student unions for necessary improvements.

CM thanks Opposition

Over two years, the standing committee held consultations with all the relevant stakeholders including the vicechancellors of the universities, concerned educationists, representatives of political parties, and their allied student organisations to get their feedback on the proposed plan to restore the student unions.

Speaking on the floor of the assembly after the adoption of the Bill, Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, thanked Opposition parties for lending support to pass the Bill. He said that the restoration of the student unions was in line with the democratic traditions to ensure healthy activities on the campuses to serve the students in a better way.