Students, activists and supporters across Pakistan are coming out on Friday to join the Student Solidarity March, led by the Student Action Committee (SAC), to present a charter of demands including the restoration of the student unions.
They are demanding the education budget be increased to 10% and the reinstatement of student unions. They say that the students themselves have no say in what the administration does, including framing course structures and scholarships. They want democratic rights for students and elections on campus for the unions.
Final locations of #StudentsSolidarityMarch organised by Students Action Committee today.
Lahore
Istanbul Chowk to Punjab Assembly
2.00 pmIslamabad
Press Club to D-Chowk
2.00 pmRawlakot
A) Degree college to Zaheer Chowk
10.30 am
B) Poonch University to Main Road
11.00 am— PSC (@PSCollective_) November 29, 2019
Like in the case of the JNU students, the Pakistani protesters are being branded “anti-national.” While left-wing JNU students have been accused of working for Pakistan, the solidarity march in Pakistan has been called an Indian conspiracy.
The PPP chairman took to Twitter and praised the new generation of students for their “spirit of activism and yearning for the peaceful democratic process”.
“The PPP has always supported Student unions. The restoration of student unions by SMBB was purposely undone to depoliticize society. Today students are marching in the #StudentSolidarityMarch for the restoration of unions, implementation of right to education 1/1,” he tweeted.
The PPP has always supported Student unions. The restoration of student unions by SMBB was purposely undone to depoliticize society. Today students are marching in the #StudentSolidarityMarch for the restoration of unions, implementation of right to education, 1/2
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) November 29, 2019