Resistance movement started all over Pakistan against this policy of nationalization especially by Christian Community, who has been rendering invaluable and unparalleled services in the field of education irrespective of caste, creed, and color. To the Muslims it was never a cause of anxiety, rather they were happy; but for the Christians it was an economic genocide, as most of them earned their living from these institutions. The subsequent events have proved that no Christian teachers or other staff were employed in these nationalized institutions. The Christian character of these institutions, which is their Fundamental right as citizen of Pakistan under Article 199 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, was badly damaged much against the promises made by Mr. Zulifqar Ali Bhutto. Hence the Christian community in Pakistan had been and is still making efforts for denationalization or return of their institutions, which is the question of lifeblood for the poor community.
The Government of the Punjab issued a notification in July 2002 to return all the nationalized or privately managed institutions to their previous owners. But, all of a sudden on the protest for denationalization of a few thousand teachers the government withdrew its notification in August 2002; thus leaving the Christian community again in a state of uncertainty, disappointment and depression.
It is pertinent to mention here that the government took over these institutions without any compensation much against all the injunctions of justice, Islamic values, and human standards. It just shows the use of power and authority for the selfish evil designs.
Issues of Denationalization
The issues of denationalization are based on the following apprehensions
1. No service- structure for teachers: It is apprehension by the teachers of these institutions apprehend that there is no security of service. The fact is that the services of the teachers in the Christian educational institutions are not dependent on the sweet will of one person or group of persons. They are under the control of Board of Governors/Directors mostly in accordance with the government rules and regulations enforced from time to time. They are paid salaries in accordance with government scales with other fringe benefits like residence, medical facilities, transport facilities and others.
2. The second apprehension is that the poor students would be deprived of good education. The fees would be too high. It is on the record of the Christian educational institutions that the poor students were never deprived of higher education. Rather they were provided with financial help, textbooks, and work scholarships. But those who could pay must pay in order to get good quality education. Let it be understood that Christian institutions are not commercial institutions. Education in these institutions is given as a service to humanity and love and compassion for mankind in accordance with the teaching of Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, we should not make education sub-standard or below the standard of education.
3. Thirdly there is the apprehension that Christian institutions would be Christianizing the Muslims and as such would be working against the ideology of Islam and Pakistan. However it should be remembered that the poet, philosopher Allama Iqbal and the father of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah were the product of Christian institutions. If they could not be converted to Christianity, no Muslim should have the apprehension of Christianizing. It is only a section of fundamentalists who make such propaganda otherwise facts do not prove this contention. It is only a biased view due to lack of education. It is therefore, in the interest of all that Christian educational institutions should be denationalized or given back to the Church management. If it is not done we will have to wait for another generation to get quality education.
The writer is a Research Officer in Caritas Pakistan Lahore
« return.