VC asks officials to foil land occupation
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has issued a restraining order against Zafar Iqbal Nagra, a member of the provincial assembly, preventing him from occupying a piece of land measuring 18 kanals and 19 marlas.
This land was allotted to the University of Agriculture in 1962, and after extensive legal battles, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ruled in favor of the University in a judgment dated February 13, 2001.
The LHC has summoned the district administration to file a reply by April 30, 2024.
University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmed Khan has written separate letters to the deputy commissioner and the city police officer, urging them to use the full force of the law to prevent illegal occupation of the land by individuals claiming it as an Eidgah.
He also notified the Chief Minister's office that the illegal occupation of public property by an MPA of the ruling party would attract negative publicity.
The correspondence from the VC highlighted that the MPA has been unlawfully occupying university land under the pretext of Anjuman-e-Data Ganj Buksh Ali Hajvary (ADGBH), Darbar Baba Qaim Sain.
A meeting was held by the Senior Member of the Board of Revenue on April 4, 2024, regarding the issue of the janazgah.
The university has maintained the janazgah since 2019, while no Eidgah or Eid event has taken place during their possession of the land.
The VC further alleged that Nagra and former MNA Raja Riaz Ahmad are trying to incite a law and order situation by falsely informing the neighbourhood that the government has permitted the use of university land as an Eidgah.
This scheme, according to the VC, is aimed at unlawfully acquiring university land for personal gain.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, the UAF VC stated that Nagra and his family have unlawfully gained at least Rs21.57 million from the land since the Supreme Court's decision in 2001 up to 2019.
A request has been submitted to district collector and divisional administration authorities to recover this amount from Zafar Iqbal Nagra.
Attempts to reach Zafar Iqbal Nagra for comment were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, Raja Riaz clarified that the land belongs to the Punjab government but has been used by the Anjuman-e-Data Ganj Buksh Ali Hajvary under the supervision of Darbar Baba Qaim Sain.
“The Punjab Board of Revenue has affirmed our ownership claim, and we will endeavour to preserve the land for use as an Eidgah or janazgah.”
He refuted the assertion made by the VC of UAF that we intend to encroach on the land.
Instead, he emphasised that people have the right to offer Eid or funeral prayers, and we will not permit anyone to infringe upon these rights.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 14th, 2024.