Squatters evicted: University land cleared of encroachment

Rangers, police and CDA officials take part in joint operation to retrieve varsity’s encroached area

ISLAMABAD: Armed contingents of Rangers and Police rolled into Quaid-i-Azam University on Saturday to take back the encroached land of the varsity from encroachers.

Officials of Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) were present during the joint operation of Bhara Kahu police and Rangers.

Government had carried out the operation on repeated requests of QAU administration.

Before the operation, the QAU had published a public notice as well warning the encroachers to evacuate the area.

There were a series of protests done by QAU students as well.

Therefore, an operation was planned after detailed meetings with VCU and CDA. The base of demarcation was done by sruveror general of Pakistan.

A press statement issued by the District Magistrate Islamabad on Saturday said that a total of 80 kanals built up area was recovered by demolishing 12 houses including three large houses, 15 structures, walls, quarters, library, cattle rooms and guest rooms.

According to DC office Islamabad an additional 100 kanals of open land was also retrieved and handed over to QAU in presence of CDA staff.

The operation was carried out on the joint demarcation report of Survey of Pakistan.

Operation was carried out peacefully. For satisfaction of locals a joint demarcation will be carried out on the areas which were disputed and challenged by them through QAU, CDA staff assisted by Revenue staff.

Heavy downpour on Saturday, did not deter the officials to complete the eviction operation. Moreover, the exercise was carried out over the weekend so as not to disturb the academic life on the campus.

Earlier this week, With over 258 acres of its land encroached on by some influential land grabbers, current and former faculty and students of the country’s top university staged a protest in the federal capital on Wednesday.

Teachers and students of the Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) in the federal capital, along with members of its Academic Staff Association (ASA) and alumni association, gathered outside the National Press Club on Wednesday to protest.

They held aloft banners and cards with slogans against the encroachment of varsity land inscribed on them.

They urged the government to expand its ongoing, nationwide anti-encroachment drive to the top-ranked varsity of the country, located just a stone’s throw from the PM House and the Parliament.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2019.