Pakistani Universities and the Issue of Freedom of Expression
By: Dr. Sohail Mahmood
Much has been written in the national press on the February 4 thrashing incident of Tahir Malik, lecturer International Relations Department by the Registrar NUML. The university faculty unanimously condemned the brutality of the NUML registrar and forced his resignation, seemingly against the wishes of the NUML authority. The university faculty’s bold stance has now been vindicated. The particular thrashing incident acted as a tipping point of sorts in the university and it changed it forever. The faculty have been galvanized and mobilized as never before because of this specific incident. Firstly, a candid review of the Pakistani universities setups was in order. Undoubtedly, there was much to be desired in this area. The obvious question is the failure of our universities. It is stark fact that Pakistan had failed at establishing world–class universities. Various reasons are given, such as: paucity of funding, lack of political will, acute centralization, low–quality teachers, malaise, and the absence of a conducive teaching and research environment. In sum the situation is grave and the failure is widespread and systematic, to say the least. However, most ills can be removed with hard work and resolve of all relevant stakeholders.
A serious problem in Pakistani universities is the lack of freedom of expression. Faculty are simply not allowed to freely express their political views. In some places they are also not allowed to form an academic staff association to voice collectively their common grievances. This is most unfortunate, as in the case of NUML. After all, universities are the citadels of civilization and enlightenment. They are supposedly the centers of free inquiry, intellectual discourse and toleration. Not in Pakistan though. For this to happen the Pakistani universities must create an enabling environment where freedom of expression is seen as supreme virtue and the very essence of the institution. The faculty must have the right to express their political views, no matter how abhorrent to the authorities. It is not for the university authorities to censor political views of its faculty members. The faculties have the basic right, given in the country’s constitution, to voice their views irrespective of what the university administration views as appropriate or in line of university philosophy. Freedom of expression is a basic human right enshrined in Pakistan’s constitution. The infringement of which should be unthinkable in a university in this day and age. Faculty need to freely discuss, debate various issues, including contentious political issues, through reasoned arguments, evidence and tolerance. All must be free to speak their mind with conviction. These freedoms are available in Western societies and the Pakistanis also now cherish them. The freedom of expression is taken for granted in modern, democratic societies, both Western and Eastern. Freedom of expression is indeed the hallmark of academia in civilized societies. In fact it is synonymous with enlightened civilization itself. Anything less is equivalent to returning to the Dark ages.
Unfortunately, Pakistani universities are mostly deficient in these desired norms and values. The practice is to follow the line given by the authorities whatever, wherever and when ever. This definitely is not conducive to learning excellence or creativity nor even quality research and teaching. This slavish mentality was not supposed to have occurred in Pakistani university cultures. The faculty is supposed to be very tolerant of dissent and opposing viewpoints. Open minds are conducive to learning. After all, dispassionate argumentation is what sound intellectual discourse is all about. Faculty must be more tolerant of opposing viewpoints and cherish debate instead of snuffing it out. The university faculty is responsible to inculcate freedom and other democratic values in their own institutions. Easier said then dome. Here a realization is in order. The philosophy of tipping point is valid in the case of NUML.
The philosophy is simple: an event which may not be significant in itself does trigger significant changes. This happens because the event triggers a tipping point and the world changes as a result. At least, the world of NUML university changed after the said event. The event proved to be an eye opener of sorts and the NUML faculty woke after decades of slumber. The faculty discovered their own strength and became aware of their own rights. Meanwhile, the Pakistani nation supported them. Thus, the NUML faculty realized their own distinct standing and crucial place in society. The NUML faculty now realizes that they are, after all, the real heart and soul of the university establishment. They have rightly gained the affection, respect and admiration of the nation. A bold action changed them, as never before. The events at NUML beg further exploration of the state of Pakistani universities. Our universities lack in the democratic practices. Basically, faculty is not encouraged to speak their minds. They are intimidated by various means. Given the legacy of authoritarianism in Pakistan, this situation was expected. However, the times have changed and Pakistan is now witnessing a historic transformation. An authoritarian legacy is being shed and the country is slowly entering into a democratic era. There can be no roll-back as the nation desires this change. This development is heartening indeed. Meanwhile, our universities must change from within and change quickly to keep up with the changed times. University faculty need to be conscious of their calling and also the historic opportunity available to them in this significant transformation taking place right before their eyes. In fact, the university faculty is not only responsible to see through this transformation but to lead it themselves. Firstly, the university faculty must get their own act in order. They must push for more democracy in their own institutions. Also, they must change themselves. Circumstances had forced a reawakening of the faculty. It was hoped that united faculty action for the betterment of NUML will gain further respect and admiration of the Pakistani people. The NUML faculty wishes to turn the university into a center of academic excellence so that Pakistanis are proud of it. The faculty of NUML cherishes the opportunity to achieve excellence by their united effort. The people of Pakistan shall support NUML faculty in this noble cause. The faculty has awakened to their role as the very heart and soul of the vast NUML setup. They are seized of their responsibility of shaping a better Pakistani youth. They are conscious of their new found strength and are demanding respect from the university administration. A small revolution in itself. Teaching is a noble progression and must have a higher status in Pakistani society. The past legacy of authoritarian rule has taken its toll in damaging the university as an institution pal excellence. It is sad that the teaching profession had been neglected in the past. The profession had low status, low remuneration, low quality intake and even lower expectations.
Once in a while a tipping point is reached, as it happened in NUML recently, and the teachers discovered themselves. This was hearting indeed. The world of NUML had changed forever. A new institution shall rise now and make Pakistanis proud. Inshallah. It is earnestly hoped that the incident was the harbinger of a positive development for NUML in particular, and the Pakistani universities in general.
Much has been written in the national press on the February 4 thrashing incident of Tahir Malik, lecturer International Relations Department by the Registrar NUML. The university faculty unanimously condemned the brutality of the NUML registrar and forced his resignation, seemingly against the wishes of the NUML authority. The university faculty’s bold stance has now been vindicated. The particular thrashing incident acted as a tipping point of sorts in the university and it changed it forever. The faculty have been galvanized and mobilized as never before because of this specific incident. Firstly, a candid review of the Pakistani universities setups was in order. Undoubtedly, there was much to be desired in this area. The obvious question is the failure of our universities. It is stark fact that Pakistan had failed at establishing world–class universities. Various reasons are given, such as: paucity of funding, lack of political will, acute centralization, low–quality teachers, malaise, and the absence of a conducive teaching and research environment. In sum the situation is grave and the failure is widespread and systematic, to say the least. However, most ills can be removed with hard work and resolve of all relevant stakeholders.
A serious problem in Pakistani universities is the lack of freedom of expression. Faculty are simply not allowed to freely express their political views. In some places they are also not allowed to form an academic staff association to voice collectively their common grievances. This is most unfortunate, as in the case of NUML. After all, universities are the citadels of civilization and enlightenment. They are supposedly the centers of free inquiry, intellectual discourse and toleration. Not in Pakistan though. For this to happen the Pakistani universities must create an enabling environment where freedom of expression is seen as supreme virtue and the very essence of the institution. The faculty must have the right to express their political views, no matter how abhorrent to the authorities. It is not for the university authorities to censor political views of its faculty members. The faculties have the basic right, given in the country’s constitution, to voice their views irrespective of what the university administration views as appropriate or in line of university philosophy. Freedom of expression is a basic human right enshrined in Pakistan’s constitution. The infringement of which should be unthinkable in a university in this day and age. Faculty need to freely discuss, debate various issues, including contentious political issues, through reasoned arguments, evidence and tolerance. All must be free to speak their mind with conviction. These freedoms are available in Western societies and the Pakistanis also now cherish them. The freedom of expression is taken for granted in modern, democratic societies, both Western and Eastern. Freedom of expression is indeed the hallmark of academia in civilized societies. In fact it is synonymous with enlightened civilization itself. Anything less is equivalent to returning to the Dark ages.
Unfortunately, Pakistani universities are mostly deficient in these desired norms and values. The practice is to follow the line given by the authorities whatever, wherever and when ever. This definitely is not conducive to learning excellence or creativity nor even quality research and teaching. This slavish mentality was not supposed to have occurred in Pakistani university cultures. The faculty is supposed to be very tolerant of dissent and opposing viewpoints. Open minds are conducive to learning. After all, dispassionate argumentation is what sound intellectual discourse is all about. Faculty must be more tolerant of opposing viewpoints and cherish debate instead of snuffing it out. The university faculty is responsible to inculcate freedom and other democratic values in their own institutions. Easier said then dome. Here a realization is in order. The philosophy of tipping point is valid in the case of NUML.
The philosophy is simple: an event which may not be significant in itself does trigger significant changes. This happens because the event triggers a tipping point and the world changes as a result. At least, the world of NUML university changed after the said event. The event proved to be an eye opener of sorts and the NUML faculty woke after decades of slumber. The faculty discovered their own strength and became aware of their own rights. Meanwhile, the Pakistani nation supported them. Thus, the NUML faculty realized their own distinct standing and crucial place in society. The NUML faculty now realizes that they are, after all, the real heart and soul of the university establishment. They have rightly gained the affection, respect and admiration of the nation. A bold action changed them, as never before. The events at NUML beg further exploration of the state of Pakistani universities. Our universities lack in the democratic practices. Basically, faculty is not encouraged to speak their minds. They are intimidated by various means. Given the legacy of authoritarianism in Pakistan, this situation was expected. However, the times have changed and Pakistan is now witnessing a historic transformation. An authoritarian legacy is being shed and the country is slowly entering into a democratic era. There can be no roll-back as the nation desires this change. This development is heartening indeed. Meanwhile, our universities must change from within and change quickly to keep up with the changed times. University faculty need to be conscious of their calling and also the historic opportunity available to them in this significant transformation taking place right before their eyes. In fact, the university faculty is not only responsible to see through this transformation but to lead it themselves. Firstly, the university faculty must get their own act in order. They must push for more democracy in their own institutions. Also, they must change themselves. Circumstances had forced a reawakening of the faculty. It was hoped that united faculty action for the betterment of NUML will gain further respect and admiration of the Pakistani people. The NUML faculty wishes to turn the university into a center of academic excellence so that Pakistanis are proud of it. The faculty of NUML cherishes the opportunity to achieve excellence by their united effort. The people of Pakistan shall support NUML faculty in this noble cause. The faculty has awakened to their role as the very heart and soul of the vast NUML setup. They are seized of their responsibility of shaping a better Pakistani youth. They are conscious of their new found strength and are demanding respect from the university administration. A small revolution in itself. Teaching is a noble progression and must have a higher status in Pakistani society. The past legacy of authoritarian rule has taken its toll in damaging the university as an institution pal excellence. It is sad that the teaching profession had been neglected in the past. The profession had low status, low remuneration, low quality intake and even lower expectations.
Once in a while a tipping point is reached, as it happened in NUML recently, and the teachers discovered themselves. This was hearting indeed. The world of NUML had changed forever. A new institution shall rise now and make Pakistanis proud. Inshallah. It is earnestly hoped that the incident was the harbinger of a positive development for NUML in particular, and the Pakistani universities in general.