AYMAN SHAD
A student of BS English at UOM
It was Saturday May 25th when students of Shangla Students Society UOM decided to give a farewell party to their graduating seniors. They gathered at the university in the evening and Pakhtoon student society’ Deputy General Secretary and cultural secretary were also invited. As it was off, so for refreshment purpose, they brought a Rabab with them to the university premises, but at the time they entered the Main gate with the Rabab a senior proctor caught them and instructed them to leave the Rabab at the security room.
So the students resisted the proctor, explaining that the Rabab belonged to someone else and they could not leave it there, they tried to convince the proctor by saying that they will leave the Rabab outside and will cancel the party but he did not agreed and in response the proctor exchange harsh words with the students and according to them he also abused them.
The next day, the students submitted a letter to the provost’s office, stating that “the Proctor’s behavior was neither legal nor ethical as he had no right to abuse the students therefore the university management is requested to ask the proctor to submit an apology letter to the students”. There was no response to that letter, instead, on the next day the administration issued three show-cause notices on three of the leading students/organizers of the party, one of which was Musa Khan from department of Journalism and Deputy General Secretary of Pakhoon Students Federation.
The very next day after the show-case at 10 o’clock in the morning hostel suspension letters were sent to the three students, which is unfair as well as illegal because according to the rules, students are given 72hours (three days) to submit the cause of the concerned issue and respond the show-cause, but they were suspended within 24hours, the helpless students spent the whole day till 3o’clock in the evening in the provost’s office requesting and asking not to be suspended before the submission of cause. They also submitted an application, but no positive results were found.
At 7 o’clock in the evening, with trauma and frustration they left the hostel, and the very next minute, the news of their bike accident spread like wildfire, bringing goosebumps to every soul. All three were badly injured, and at 3 a.m. Musa Khan surrendered to his injuries and failed to survive anymore; his two friends are still at the hospital.
Here a question arises: Who did this, who is responsible for this? The university management?
As Muslims we believe that the time a person has, in this world is predetermined, and no one can live a second less or a second more. Musa Khan is no longer with us because his time had come. However, we should highlight some factors to ensure that future university students do not suffer sillier fates
One of the reasons of Musa khan’s stress was the management’s behavior and their attitude towards the students. Yeah, I agree that bringing musical instruments to university premises without permission is not allowed, but they did not even played the Rabab. They tried their best to convince the proctor to sort out the issue. The students told the proctor that they would leave the university and even cancel the party, but he got mad at them and that’s very unfair. The teachers and proctors must not behave this way towards the students and must not make it an egoistic issue. It’s not fair to use your authority against students and become personal with them.
If a student of journalism who is taught about the freedom of expression in his course and class, cannot ask for his rights in the university, then who else will do it? How will a student of journalism raise a voice for his people and his nation in the future if he is not given the freedom to fight for his rights now? How will he do it tomorrow?
Faculty members must not be that egoistic to their students. A university must not torture its students the way they did with Musa and his friends, they were under pressure, having the stress of showcase, hostel seat cancellation, their exams, and most of all the burden of their family’s and parents expectations from them.
Bringing Rabab was not that big deal; losing an innocent soul is very emotional and tragic. It’s very bad of the university management; and the university is responsible for the loss of Musa Khan. The university must be supportive of their students and must try to give mental peace to their students.
Now the management must withdraw the show-cause notices of the two students, Waqas Ahmad Khan and Ashraf Ali, before something even worse happens, as it’s of no use to cry over spilt milk then.
If these facilitators focused on their actual responsibilities and genially aimed to assist the students, our university and Pakistan could progress significantly. These frustrating behaviors might seem insignificant, but they reveal the ethical and societal shortcomings that hold our students and our nation back from development.
As responsible individuals, we should feel a sense of responsibility within ourselves, as we will be held accountable by the almighty for our actions. We should not become obstacles for others but rather facilitate them for the sake of God.
By AYMAN SHAD
A student of BS English at UOM…..
