Sabeen Mahmud, an ardent activist was assassinated shortly after hosting a talk regarding the issue of missing Balochi's. It is stated that nearly 2,825 people have gone missing from Balochistan since 2005. Sabeen and others like Mama Qadeer strongly believe that the ISI and the government have played a huge role in abducting these Balochi's.
This incident is of course extremely depressing but more importantly it sheds light on what Sabeen Mahmud took a stand for and simultaneously what LUMS did not. Sabeen not only supported a secular and pluralistic voice but also gave a platform to it and for this she payed the price with her blood. According to the news, she even voiced concerned to her close friend regarding the trouble she faced for hosting an event, but she still went through with it. Why didn't our prestigious institution which is supposed to foster all sort of intellectual ideas do the same? After partition, universities always partook in the fight against freedom of expression and speech.They were the platforms for change.
The death of Sabeen Mahmud is the death of intellectual freedom. Similarly the cancellation of the event by LUMS is an attack on our right to attain information regarding all perspectives. It deeply saddens me that I pay money to a 'liberal institution' which can not take a stand for freedom of expression, thought and intellect. It deeply saddens me that the most I can do is a write a blog regarding this because despite my opposition to the stance of LUMS,I must return to it due to the lack of options in Pakistan.
To read more regarding Sabeen Mahmud's assassination, please visit
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/04/pakistani-rights-activist-sabeen-mahmud-killed-150424210251526.html
It is indeed sad that our institution, the presumed flag bearer of academic liberty and freedom, has cowered to the fear of the state. Yesterday has taught us that the price of speaking out is death. Listening about the incident, I was stuck with grief and awe at the lengths our state could have gone to. Hamid Mir hosted Mama Qadeer; he was shot, Sabeen did so, she was shot. Then I realised it will take any measures; alas, it is accountable only to itself, and we rest satisfied at letting the ISI do as it very well pleases; it will fear no one because we rest all our trust and confidence in it letting it abuse and exploit us. Sympathisers of the ISI will make the assumption that an organisation as shrewdly run as it could make such a blunder the petty premise of their argument. If the killers are not found, not tried, and not brought to justice, it will only be rational to assume that these bandits have tried to shut us up. That these hooligans are apathetic, indifferent. And that will be the time to rise up to their outrageous atrocities. And that will be the time to question them. Unfortunately, LUMS is only a spineless business organisation motivated more towards profit maximisation than towards the sanctity of freedom. I can very well expect not the slightest reaction from these cowardly professors instructed to remain silent. It is incumbent upon us to begin questioning now; and to stop convincing ourselves still that Sabeen was not shot; that it is implausible that the ISI would do such a thing. It has always, and will always nip your freedom. Never be amazed at the lengths it goes to. Never.
ReplyDeleteAnd Faraz, good point: "we rest satisfied at letting the ISI do as it very well pleases; it will fear no one because we rest all our trust and confidence in it letting it abuse and exploit us."
DeleteAlso a point of disagreement Faraz. I think many professors will speak out against this, as it the institution that is silenced, not the professors.
What is the point of receiving an education if our own institution plays a role in veiling the truth? It did not even give us full information regarding which state actors and why the talk was cancelled in the first place. It is indeed our right to know.
ReplyDeleteIt is no longer just our right to know, but our responsibility for the sake of all those lives being lost. For the sake of all those millions in Waziristan and Balochistan being tortured behind closed doors. It is upon us to speak out and question and ask and resist and stand and scream. It is upon us to be their voice; for thats the least we can do. Our institution..well, only if it held uprightness in any regards.
ReplyDeleteGreat - but what as Geena points out below, what is the best method to voice our opposition? I have some ideas of course, but your guys voice is what really matters.
DeleteWhat would you propose as a good idea to voice our strong opposition to this?
ReplyDeleteWho do we question and who do we direct our stance towards?
Good post. But universities post-partition have not taken a significant stand for freedom of expression. For example, see how universities were silenced during military regimes. Or see how leading intellectuals and university officials in Bangladesh were brutally murdered by the Pakistani military and its proxies in 1971. Hence, I don't think that even universities have been a significant platform for change.
ReplyDeleteUniversities have been a platform for social change especially in 1968 whereby Ayub Khan tried to fool the masses by indicating that Pakistan had changed It was in this year that fresh graduates went out onto the streets and burned their college degrees showing that they were of no worth and Pakistan had indeed not changed.
ReplyDeleteStudents played a large role in the protest against the Ayub regime in 1969.
Here is an example of a student protestor during this time
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanullah_Asaduzzaman