Progressive Students Collective

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Progressive Students' Collective
AbbreviationPSC
Formation2016
Typeindependent Left-wing students’ organization
Legal statusActive
PurposeTo educate & organize students around critical issues
HeadquartersLahore
Location
Central President
Virsa Pirzado
General SEcretary
Haris Ahmad Khan
President Karachi
Jasvant Singh
President Hyderabad
Niaz Ahmed
Websitehttps://thestudentsherald.com/

'Progressive Students' Collective' (PSC) is an independent left-wing student organisation based in Pakistan.Currently, Virsa pirzado ,Haris Ahmad Khan, Jasvant Singh, Niaz Ahmed are elected as the Central President, Central General Secretary and President PSC Karachi, PSC Hyderabad chapter respectively.

Formation[edit]

Progressive Students Collective (PSC) was formed in 2016.[1] Progressive Students’ Collective is a students' based organization that envisions to forge a broad level of solidarity among students to struggle for the rights. We aim to struggle for student unions, free education for all, Harassment Committees on campuses, Critical thinking on campus, End to Racial Profiling of students, End to Digital Divide in the country and other rights of students.

PSC sub organization[edit]

There are six sub organizations of PSC.

  1. The Students’ Herald (Publication/Magazine)
  2. Law Students’ Collective
  3. Feminist Students’ Collective
  4. The Artists’ Assembly
  5. Climate Activists’ Collective
  6. The Science Club

Membership[edit]

In order to become a member of PSC, one must be in any educational institute i.e must be a student, must not be part of any other political organisation. PSC categorizes its members into "Primary Members" and "Active Members".

Organization City Chapter[edit]

Progressive Students Collective (PSC) has presence in most major city like lahore, Karachi, Multan, Hyderabad Sindh, Islamabad, DI Khan, Peshawar etc.

University/College Campus Unit[edit]

Progressive Students Collective (PSC) has presence in most major universities like Punjab University, Karachi University, Federal Urdu University, Sindh University, Government College University lahore, BZU University etc.

Activities[edit]

Students Solidarity March[edit]

PSC always organized annually march in big city of country for restoration of student union in last week of November called Student Solidarity March. PSC has organized many events highlighting rights of workers, students, youth, and general public like Faiz Aman Mela, 2018,[2] Shehri Tahafuzz March, 2019[3] against Sahiwal killings, Labour Relief Campaign,[4][5] protests against anti-people budget,[6] extremism and violence at campuses,[7][8] human rights violation,[9] forceful abductions,[10] and mob lynching[11] theatre,[12] Climate Justice March,[13][14][15] Students Solidarity March in 2018,[16][17][18] 2019,[19][20][21] 2020[22][23] 2021[24][25] and 2022.[26]

Student action committee[edit]

PSC played important role in making student alliance in the form of student action committee in 2019.[27] In 2019, PSC members including Arooj Aurangzaib, Virsa Pirzado and Zubair, Ali Raza, Qaisar Javed faced huge criticism and faces criminals charges through fake FIR on raising slogans for Students Solidariy March.[28][29] Members of PSC, also faced arrests in 2021 during the pandemic while protesting for online examination in Lahore.[30][31] On February 9, 2022, PSC organised a series of protests in several cities to mark the 38th year of ban on student unions in Pakistan in 1984[32] by dictator Zia-ul-Haq. In Lahore, PSC also staged a sit-in outside Punjab Assembly.[33][34] PSC also faced pressure from campus authorities against organizing study circles and participation in women rights' marches.[35]

Citations/Sources[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Students take to the streets in Lahore for Qutub Rind, killed for 'blasphemy'". www.asianews.it.
  2. ^ Gabol, Imran (19 February 2018). "Politics, activism, human rights highlights of Faiz Aman Mela". DAWN.COM.
  3. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (11 February 2019). "Civil society, student bodies rally for justice to Sahiwal victims". DAWN.COM.
  4. ^ "People's Food Power | Six ingenious ways local groups in Asia addressed hunger amid Covid-19*". www.righttofoodandnutrition.org.
  5. ^ Review, Pakistan Left (18 May 2020). "Labour Relief Campaign". Pakistan Left Review.
  6. ^ Daur, Naya (17 June 2019). "Protest Against 'IMF Imposed' Federal Budget 2019 Held In Lahore". Naya Daur.
  7. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (27 August 2021). "Two injured in PU student groups clash". DAWN.COM.
  8. ^ Pk, Voice (1 September 2021). "Are Punjab's Campuses Ripe for Talibanization?". Voicepk.net.
  9. ^ "Protest held in solidarity with Palestine". Daily Times. 23 May 2021.
  10. ^ Dispatch, Peoples (30 July 2020). "Rights groups demand release of activist Mohammad Amin in Pakistan". Peoples Dispatch.
  11. ^ "Protest against Sialkot incident". www.thenews.com.pk.
  12. ^ "Theatre of change". The Friday Times - Naya Daur. 2 August 2018.
  13. ^ Report, Recorder (9 November 2021). "Civil society activists take out 'Climate Justice March'". Brecorder.
  14. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (9 November 2021). "Hundreds march in Lahore for action against climate change". DAWN.COM.
  15. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (11 December 2021). "Activists for closure of industry causing pollution". DAWN.COM.
  16. ^ Daur, Naya (26 November 2018). "'Victims of crisis': Solidarity march to demand student rights". Naya Daur.
  17. ^ Daur, Naya (27 November 2018). "Is Pakistan's youth ready to support the Student Solidarity March?". Naya Daur.
  18. ^ Sarfaraz, Iqra. "STRIVING FOR THE RED AND THE REVOLUTION". www.thenews.com.pk.
  19. ^ Kumar, V. Arun (29 November 2019). "'The desire for revolution is in our hearts': historic students' march in Pakistan". Peoples Dispatch.
  20. ^ "Countrywide Student Solidarity March Being Held In Pakistan |". Ommcom News. 29 November 2019.
  21. ^ Japanwala, Natasha. "'Love and power': The revival of people's politics in Pakistan". www.aljazeera.com.
  22. ^ Jalil, Xari (5 December 2021). "WHEN THE STUDENTS MARCH". DAWN.COM.
  23. ^ Gabol, Imran (28 November 2020). "Arrest warrants issued for activist after students rally in Lahore". DAWN.COM.
  24. ^ Gabol, Imran (27 November 2021). "Students rally for restoration of unions, fee cuts in Lahore". DAWN.COM.
  25. ^ Singh, Shriya (7 December 2021). "Solidarity march shows rising strength of student movement in Pakistan". Peoples Dispatch.
  26. ^ Pk, Voice (26 November 2022). "Students Solidarity March renews call for revival of unions". Voicepk.net.
  27. ^ "Students in Pakistan call Nov. 29 nationwide solidarity march". socialistresurgence.org. 28 November 2019.
  28. ^ Daur, Naya (18 November 2019). "We Are Ordinary People Tired Of Circumstances, Says Activist Mobilising For Student Solidarity March". Naya Daur.
  29. ^ Daur, Naya (20 November 2019). "I Have Been Criticised For Being Non-Elite, Student Activist Responds to Criticism". Naya Daur.
  30. ^ Dispatch, Peoples (1 February 2021). "Student protests compels Pakistani administration to hold online exams". Peoples Dispatch.
  31. ^ "Protests against on-campus exams: Education minister takes note of student demands". DAWN.COM. 26 January 2021.
  32. ^ Kumar, V. Arun (28 November 2019). ""The future belongs to us": Students' solidarity march in Pakistan". Peoples Dispatch.
  33. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (18 February 2022). "Students' sit-in for unions revival enters 9th day". DAWN.COM.
  34. ^ "Why Progressive Students Collective Staged Sit-in Outside Punjab Assembly?". Daily Latest News Updates and Informative Content. 11 February 2022.
  35. ^ Daur, Naya (5 March 2020). "Punjab University Administration Pressuring Students Not To Join Aurat March". Naya Daur.