Clearing: QAU seeks ICT help against encroachment

Counsel for KMC, Advocate Sameer Gazanfar, argued that the land for the restaurant was acquired at Bagh Ibne Qasim

ISLAMABAD: The Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) has asked the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration to clear varsity land from all illegal encroachment under the government's ongoing anti-encroachment drive across the country.

In a statement issued by the varsity on Tuesday, it has been warned all the illegal occupants and encroachers to vacate its land immediately, otherwise, the government will launch an operation for their eviction.

“The illegal occupants, encroachers will be responsible for any damage or loss in this regard,” the statement added.

An area of 1,709 acres, four kanals and 12 marlas, had been acquired by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) in 1967-72 to build the University of Islamabad (now renamed as Quaid-i-Azam University). However, neither was all the land demarcated by building  walls nor was possession of all the land was given to the varsity. Hence, there are a number of illegal occupants on the varsity’s land, including nine villages spread on 298 acres of land along with other illegal encroachment.

In April-May 2017, the university carried out fresh, on-ground demarcation, of its land through the Survey of Pakistan (SOP), and coordinates were fixed on the boundary line.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2^nd, 2019.