PUTA vows to file defamation suit against nazim & DC

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar University Teachers Association (PUTA) has expressed concern over the allegations levelled against it and the University of Peshawar administration by the district nazim and deputy commissioner of Nowshera and announced that it would file defamation suit against them in the Peshawar High Court.

In a press statement issued here on Tuesday, PUTA President Dr Jamil Ahmad said Nowshera District Nazim Liaqat Khattak had a track record of illegal occupation of government properties and this made him a leader of the land mafia in his district. He alleged that a private firm some weeks ago on the special directives of Liaqat Khattak attempted to occupy the Azakhel Park and establish a flying club there but PUTA’s timely action foiled the attempt.

He claimed PUTA foiled another such attempt by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak who also tried to illegally occupy Azakhel Botanical Garden in 2014. He said the PUTA won the case against the provincial government in both the Peshawar High Court and Supreme Court of Pakistan.

“We know how to protect our rights and property. We have spent Rs3 million from our salaries so far and we will do so in future to protect the government property instead of allowing to be illegally occupied by the district administration of Nowshera. We will fight for the rights of the students and teachers and will never let the provincial government illegally occupy this precious asset,” he stressed.

The PUTA president said he would expose the land mafia of district Nowshera soon. “Many cats will come out of the bag in our forthcoming court hearing. We will expose the matter of the parking lot, the contractors and all other activities of the land mafia. If the media dig out its files and see they will find out that the same people had illegally occupied government property earlier too. The Government High School No 2 Nowshera is one such example,” he maintained.

Jamil Ahmad said if Liaqat Khattak accuses media of irresponsible reporting, they would be happy to face him in the court as well as in the media through a joint press conference. He said they were ready to take up their case on any forum in the country.