Encroachers celebrate field day as admin stays mum

Commercial activities take root in illegally constructed building on KU lands

KARACHI:

A mixture of negligence and carelessness has put the assets of the University of Karachi at risk of falling permanently into the hands of encroachers, who are minting money after illegally occupying the institute’s land.

Recently, a sports pavilion sprung up in an already illegally constructed building, on the university’s land in front of the main campus - a double whammy of illegality. Despite the university’s administration having a stay order on the property given by the courts, the people who set up the pavilion have now started to allocate the walls of the building for advertisements and have set up billboards.

The arrival of the business came as a surprise to the staff of the university, who were already perturbed by the illegal structure built, leading some to question whether the administration was sleeping as private individuals chipped away at its assets. One such staff member, a teacher in the Department of Chemistry, wrote a letter to the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Karachi pointing out the commercial activities that had started in the name of sports in the illegal building.

After learning that despite the letter the management was still silent, the Express Tribune contacted Security Advisor of the varsity, Professor Muhammad Zubair, to confirm. “It has come to our knowledge that some commercial activities have started in the building, which is established on our land, but due to my busy schedule I have not been able to confirm or send my staff. However, I will look into the matter now,” the professor said.

It is pertinent to mention that apart from the illegal building, the varsity’s land has been encroached upon by many in recent times - restaurants, car dealers, gipsies, and a government hospital.

The Express Tribune contacted the university’s State Officer, Noreen Shariq, to inquire about the admin’s alleged lax attitude, and was told that steps were being taken. “We have already written a letter to the sports pavilion party and asked them to remove all advertisements and board,” Shariq informed. When asked when would the illegal occupants who had started the business be evicted, the State Officer said that she was not privy to such information and would have to either ask the security department or the Registrar of the varsity.

The Registrar, Professor Maqsood Ansari, when contacted to inquire about all the encroachers, informed that the process of restaurants or car dealers propping up on the varsity’s land had not been sudden but had been ongoing for years now.

When asked when would the illegal occupiers be dealt with, Professor Ansari replied: “I have asked the State Office and Legal Department to take action against them and will ask them again as to why no action has been taken.” The Registrar further said that apart from the university’s departments, his office had also informed the Anti-Encroachment Cell, Commissioner Karachi, Deputy Commissioner, and Rangers officials and were now awaiting action from them.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13^th, 2022.