close
Thursday March 28, 2024

QAU alumni protest ‘usurpation’ of varsity land

By Afshan S. Khan & Rasheed Khalid
December 11, 2016

ISLAMABAD

The Alumni Association, Academic Staff Association, staff and existing students, both male and female, of Quaid-i-Azam University staged a peaceful demonstration in front of the National Press Club against ‘usurpation’ of the university land. 

The gathering included Dr Aslam Chohan (Physics) from 1972 batch to the fresh graduates. The speakers lamented the apathy of the government which was giving more funds to other universities while the QAU, which remains No 1 for past many years, is forced to introduce cuts in scholarships and other funds.

Bakht Rehman, the project director, said that according to the 1967 map provided by Capital Development Authority (CDA), QAU had measured 1,709 acres and 12 marlas with natural boundaries of Murree Road, Bari Imam and Chan Kass Nullah. He said that university donated land to Wapda in 1970s for its grid in exchange for an underground feeder for uninterrupted electric supply. He said that some Ch Sarwar tried to install a crush machine in 1981 but after a three-year case, the court decided in favour of the QAU. He said that an Afghan katchi abadi was got removed by the university. He said that a case in the name of some Makkhan claiming more university land towards Murree Road was later withdrawn.

Sikander Rai, president of the alumni, said the alumni is with QAU faculty. “Our achievements are because of the QAU and wee will fight for it,” he said.  Murtaza Noor, secretary of the alumni, said the teachers are given respect the world over and all support them on this common cause irrespective of party.

Dr Asif, president ASA, asked the government to approve PC-1 of QAU and give 1,709 acres of QAU by Jan 1, 2017, otherwise ASA with the help of campus community will close down Murree Road which the prime minister uses to go to Murree.

Meanwhile, in connection with drive against illegal encroachment, occupation and non-demarcation of QAU land and discriminatory attitude with the university, QAU’s Alumni Association and Academic Staff Association have agreed to evolve joint strategy to undertake collective efforts in order to get the varsity land issue resolved. In this regard, it was decided to submit singed petition to President of Pakistan and National Commission for Human Rights Pakistan. 

Sharing the details, the Alumni Association’s general secretary Murtaza Noor informed that QAU faculty, employees, old and present students are unanimous on the fact that any encroachment at their alma mater would not be acceptable.

Sikandar Rai said they would utilise every possible option in this regard and would take up this issue to all the relevant forums. He further said that it was quite misfortunate that when Pakistan’s leading federal higher education institution was celebrating its 50th anniversary, it was being subjected to such treatment and had been left on the mercy of land mafia to grab its land.

Newly elected president of QAU ASA Dr Ishtiaq Ali said the QAU students, alumni, faculty, employees and administration are really concerned about the fact that various encroachers have encroached upon over 200 acres of the university’s land, worth billions of rupees.