The illegal occupancy of about 40 government houses in the residential area of the University of Karachi (KU) has turned into a complicated matter.
Per source, at least three types of illegal occupants have come to the fore, including retired teachers, officers, and employees who have completed their legal tenures; on-service employees; and bank officers having no connection with the varsity.
Despite being questioned about the illegal status of their occupancy, many occupants are not willing to vacate the houses.
After repeatedly failing to remove illegal occupants from government bungalows and quarters, the management of the university, for the very first time, has decided to take the matter before the syndicate - the strongest authority in the university.
The approval regarding the removal of illegal occupants will be taken by the university’s syndicate during a meeting, scheduled to be held on July 18, under the chairmanship of the university’s vice-chancellor Dr Khalid Mehmood Iraqi.
The matter has been added to the agenda of the syndicate, and a detailed report, prepared by the state office of the varsity about the illegal occupancy of government houses, is set to be presented at the meeting.
Per the report, a few illegal occupants broke into locked houses and settled there, while some on-service employees -- despite the annulment of the allotment - refused to vacate the houses.
The report mentioned the case of Professor Ghazala Rizwani who had retired in December 2015 and was granted a legal extension to vacate the house by December 19, 2016. She, however, continued to live in the house for three more years.
Likewise, the university’s former director of finance Masood Abbas, who was posted in the University of Karachi for three years, starting from June 20, 2012, is still residing in the same bungalow and has refused to vacate it.
"Moreover, several retired professors, who retired at the same time, were given extensions to vacate the houses. These included Professor Arif Kamal who was given an extension until May 21 2017, Professor Zulqarnain Shadab who was given time until August 28, 2018, Professor Surayya Khatoon was told to vacate the house by January 19, 2018, Dr Rasheeda Qari on February 16, 2019, Professor Shahid Ali on July 24, 2019, Professor Qamar Ameen in September 2019, Professor Ahmed Qari on December 23, 2019, Professor Anwar Zaidi on October 5, 2019, and Professor Moonis Ahmer was told to vacate the house by April 2, 2020. All these individuals have spent over a year residing in the government houses after their tenures came to an end."
The houses allotted to officer Akram Sharif, Syed Khalid, and several lower-grade employees and officers who have joined the Sindh Medical University, retired teachers and the former director of finance who has retired from KU, have been annulled.
According to the report, a few on-service employees allegedly broke into locked houses in October and December 2018, including lab assistant Masood Bin Fareed, store-keeper Saud Bin Fareed, and computer operator, Obaidullah.
One of the syndicate members, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told The Express Tribune that he contacted a few of his fellow members after receiving the agenda of the syndicate.
“I have spoken to a few of my fellow syndicate members and they are of the opinion that if the syndicate fails to take some important and immediate decision regarding the evacuation of the houses, illegal occupants will feel encouraged and this corrupt practice will continue like the past,” he said.
He added that the lukewarm attitude of the management regarding illegal occupancy of government houses show the prevalent corruption amid government institutions. The matter was raised in the past too and several former administrations brushed the matter under the rug.
“The present management has also failed to do anything except for wasting time and showing progress on paper. Now, that the matter is going to be put before the syndicate so some sort of action must be taken.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 15th, 2020.
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