ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Afridi on Sunday said that the government would get academic land vacated from illegal occupation at any cost and not allow anyone to take law in his hand.
Talking to media persons about the ongoing operation against the encroachment of Quaid-e-Azam University’s (QAU) land, the state minister said that the government would ensure accountability of all according to the law.
Emphasising on the importance of academic institutions in educating the nations, he said a university is a place where nations get education and training and excel in their lives.
“Unfortunately, over 200 acres of government land supposed to be utilised for academic purposes had encroached since years,” he lamented.
Afridi said he has no personal grudge against anyone and will continue his efforts to implement rule of law.
Appreciating the efforts of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) teams and District Administration in carrying out operations against the illegal occupation of QAU land, he said that all departments are playing an active role against encroachments.
Meanwhile, QAU Alumni Association Secretary General Murtaza Noor said that the drive against QAU land’s illegal occupation would help restore the dignity of all universities.
He said that QAU is imparting education to over 12,000 students belonging from all over the country, including Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). “This university is like a mini Pakistan,” he added.
He said that getting the university’s land vacated was a longstanding demand and the removal of encroachments would boost academic activities as well as the morale of the students.