Officers get 15 days to vacate illegal residence

Twenty seven families reportedly residing at College of Home Economics without paying rent

KARACHI:

College Education Department Sindh has issued a 15-day notice to officers residing in Khatoon-e-Pakistan College, including the regional director Karachi, to vacate the building constructed on the college premises.

Concerns have been raised about 27 families reportedly residing on the premises of the Rana Liaquat Ali Khan College of Home Economics without paying a house rent for college accommodation.

According to sources a huge portion of Jamia Millia Government College, Malir, has been transformed into a residential colony. This situation has arisen due to the lack of a clear policy from the College Education Department regarding accommodation in colleges. The allotment of accommodation seems to be influenced by connections and personal influence rather than considering seniority or job-related criteria.

During the process of identifying legal and illegal residents in government colleges in Karachi, unusual findings have surfaced. A report is being prepared in the Regional Directorate of Colleges and will be forwarded to the department's secretary for further action.

Interestingly, besides Regional Director Colleges Professor Sulaiman Sayal, Deputy Director Rashid Khoso, and another officer reside in Khatoon-e-Pakistan Government College along with their families.

When contacted by The Express Tribune, Prof Sayal said that the College Education Department has issued a notice to him and two other officers, including Khoso, to vacate their houses within 15 days. He stated that they would comply with the directive.

According to data from the Regional Office, at least 27 families reside in Rana Liaquat Ali Khan College, with the majority having no affiliation with the college. Twenty of these families do not pay rent to the department.

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Prof Sayal disclosed that the college's principal has been allocated a bungalow, but it has been repurposed as a "mini zoo" rather than being used as a residence.

Similarly, a huge portion of Jamia Millia College has been converted into an unauthorised residential colony. Despite being coeducational institutions, Government College of Physical Education and Government College of Education have allocated houses to people.

In response to inquiries, Prof Sayal said that no notice would be issued to former regional director Professor Bari, who resides in the College of Physical Education.

The regional director accused the All Pakistan Clerks Association (APCA) of orchestrating a campaign against the residents of Khatun-e-Pakistan College, alleging that it was in retaliation for the transfer of two clerks from Sheikh Zayed College. The APCA had advocated for the cancellation of the transfer of these two clerks.

The Express Tribune reached out to Azra Farooqui, Principal of Rana Liaquat Ali Khan College of Home Economics, for comments. She denied the claim made by the regional director regarding a "mini zoo" on the college premises. She clarified that some birds are bred and are occasionally kept in the houses. Regarding accommodation for other individuals, she stated that staff members reside in other bungalows or quarters in the college, with only one college principal, Nusrat Waheed, being adopted in another college and staying there.

In addition to the mentioned colleges, Government Karachi Girls College on Chand Bibi Road also has the residence of a former officer of the College Education Department. This residence was allocated to an officer during the tenure of Prof Bari.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 7^th, 2023.