- Professors concerned about cancellation of events at Habib University and LUMS; dismissal of politically active professor at PU; and questioning of Gomal University official by ‘state functionaries’
LAHORE: A grand collective of nearly 200 university professors has come together from all over Pakistan to protest what they are calling increased repression of academic freedom on University Campuses in Pakistan.
Faculty members from several universities, including the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Punjab University, COMSATS, Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi, Forman Christian College, Lahore School of Economics (LSE), Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS) Quetta, Quaid e Azam University Islamabad, Habib University, University of Sindh and Agha Khan University have all collectively written an open letter pertaining to recent events in different universities of the country which allegedly curtail free thinking in academic spaces.
The letter was also signed by a number of important Pakistani professors who are part of the faculty at foreign universities, including Cambridge University, University of Chicago, University of Toronto, NYU, University of Edinburgh, and others.
“As faculty members and teachers, we are extremely concerned about the events that have taken place over the last few days at universities across Pakistan, which signal a closure of intellectual space within the country. Between April 12 and 13, four separate but related instances of repression took place on university campuses in different parts of the country,” read the letter which was posted on social media and undersigned by 195 Pakistani professors from all across the world.
The four events that the letter referred to included cancelled events at Habib University and LUMS, the firing of a politically active professor in Punjab University and the questioning of Gomal University official by ‘state functionaries.’
“In the first instance, an event entitled ‘Ethnic Rights, New Social Movements, and the State of the Federation in Pakistan,’ which was supposed to be held at Habib University on April 13 was forcibly cancelled only an hour before the event was due to be held after a visit from state functionaries,” read the letter.
In a similar happening, a student-organised event meant to commemorate the first death anniversary of the slain Mashal Khan, also on April 13, was cancelled on the same day it was to be held.
The university cited “administrative concerns” and there was no discussion about rescheduling the event. This had led to serious backlash from the student body.
The third event is the much publicised firing of Ammar Ali Jan from the Punjab University, where he was labelled a ‘troublemaker’ for his social and political activism and his candid interactions with his students.
The fourth incident that was being referred to was when ‘state functionaries’ visited the faculty and administration at Gomal University in DI Khan, and questioned them about the content of their courses. The faculty and administration were also reportedly given a warning not to teach subjects that would encourage critical thinking among the students.
While it was not mentioned in the letter, there are reports that the Gomal University has banned the entry of its former alumnus and PTM leader Manzoor Pashteen.
“All four events are part of a wider trend that stifles critical thinking and discussion on university campuses,” read the letter undersigned by the 195 university professors.
“The future of our country rests on how well we train our students as thinkers and analysts. It is for these reasons that the events of recent days are so troubling,” it went on to add.
“We urge the relevant authorities to take action against those responsible and to ensure that our universities remain free from outside interference in the future” it demanded.
