Moalims

ISLAMABAD: The participants of a round-table dialogue stressed on the implementation of 18th Constitutional Amendment in letter and spirit whereas they also demanded autonomy of the universities.

The implementation of 18th Constitutional Amendment in education and health sector and autonomy of universities should be ensured. It was resolved by the participants at a round table dialogue on “6 Years of 18th Constitutional Amendment: Equity and Autonomy of Universities” organised by Pakistan social services partnership, coalition of 85 civil society organisations at the local hotel in Islamabad. The event was presided over by Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) former secretary Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad.

The unanimous resolution stated that the Monitoring and Advocacy Committee comprising of stakeholders and representatives from all the provinces should be formed to organise similar dialogues in all the provinces and formulate and advocate a position paper addressing the subject issue in an articulated way based on wider consultative process.

The resolution sought the autonomy of universities and academic freedom at campuses must be respected by federal and provincial higher education commissions, as per true spirit of 18th Constitutional Amendment. A new commission on education standards should be formed by the federal government as per mandated by the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, which should repeal the existing one.

The next NFC Award must be finalised and announced immediately so that every province has adequate resources for education and health. The ban on student union must be lifted immediately.

The PSSP Chairperson Javed Iqbal, Centre for Inclusive Governance Executive Director Gulbaz Ali Khan, Centre for Civic Education Pakistan Executive Director Zafar Ullah Khan, Islamabad High Court Bar Association President Tariq Mahmood Jaehangiri, Federal Union of Journalists former president Muhammad Afzal Butt, Quaid-e-Azam, University Academic Staff Association President Dr Asif Ali, and International Islamic University, Islamabad Academic Staff Association President Dr Zafar Iqbal, also addressed the forum.

Centre for Civic Education Pakistan Executive Director Zafarullah Khan in his keynote address said that the historic 18th Constitutional Amendment was unanimously passed by the Parliament. This amendment introduced changes to about 36 percent of the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan; 102 out of 280 articles of the Constitution were amended. After the abolition of concurrent list, education and health have become provincial matters. It is quite unfortunate that six years have been left but the implementation of this important constitutional amendment is still pending. He said that the universities are autonomous bodies and their autonomy should be respected.

National Democratic Foundation Chairperson Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad emphasised over the resolution of all the issues in education sector as per the Constitution of Pakistan. Federal Union of Journalists former president Muhammad Afzal Butt lamented over ban on students unions in educational institutions and demanded to uplift the ban immediately.

News Reference