QAU JAC vows to take back each inch of encroached land

–Construction of new academic blocks, hostels, labs, playgrounds, student centres halted only due to encroachments

ISLAMABAD: The Quaid-e-Azam University Alumni Association (QAUAA) and Joint Action Committee (JAC) on Saturday reiterated their resolve to continue their struggle until every inch of the top-ranked university was retrieved from land grabbers.

The resolve was made during a dialogue that was organised by the QAUAA on the issue of the university’s occupied land that was participated by senior Quaidians, members of the JAC, faculty, officers, employees and students.

The panelists of the dialogue included QAU President Alumni Association Sikandar Ahmed Rai, senior scientist and analyst Parvez Hoodbhoy, QAU Academic Staff Association President Dr Aqeel Bukhari, senior scientist and former first elected president of QAU Students Union Dr Muhammad Sohaib, former Higher Education Commission (HEC) advisor Talat Khurshid, QAUAA Secretary General Murtaza Noor, QAU Project Director and Focal Person Bakhat Rehman, and Officers Welfare Association Vice President Qari Yasin.

During the dialogue, it was apprised that the QAU administration had made full payment of 1,709 acres of land to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) decades ago, which was also admitted by the CDA in its formal reply at the Supreme Court (SC) and reconciled in writing during latest meeting held between the QAU management and CDA officials.

It was also informed that the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Education in its meeting held on May 30, 2018, had directed QAU administration to ensure removal of illegal encroachments over its land through issuing evacuation notices with a clear-cut deadline, disconnection of utilities of illegal inhabitants and evacuation of area from illegal occupants.

The recent anti-encroachment drive is in accordance with the directives of the Standing Committee as well.

The meeting also demanded of the prime minister that the anti-occupation drive should continue till the last inch of QAU encroached land is retrieved as per commitment of the federal government. A demarcation of encroached land was carried out by Survey of Pakistan in its report in 2017.

The meeting also demanded that concerned government departments must fulfil their responsibility of handing over peaceful possession of the complete 1,709 acres of land, including 152 acres short delivered, for which it received full price decades ago.

During the questions and answers session, it was informed that the illegal encroachments have severely affected development and expansion work at the university campus as the construction of new academic blocks, hostels, labs, playgrounds, student centres cannot be done only for this reason. Due to this, the growing needs of an increasing population of more than twelve thousand enrolled QAU students are not being met.