Bid to grab KU land sparks backlash

KDA officials demarcating land near Jubilee Gate withdraw on resistance

KARACHI:

A tense standoff unfolded at the University of Karachi (KU) on Friday when officials from the Karachi Development Authority (KDA), accompanied by police personnel, allegedly attempted to occupy a piece of land within the university's premises. The move, described by the KU administration as an "illegal land grab," was thwarted after university officials, faculty members, and students confronted the team and demanded legal documentation, which the KDA reportedly failed to produce.

According to university sources, the KDA team arrived at Gate No. 1 of the KU campus, accompanied by police vehicles and a group of officials carrying construction materials. They began placing wooden stakes, marking boundaries, and putting up signboards on a vacant plot of land located adjacent to the main entrance of the campus the Jubilee Gate.

Upon receiving reports of the activity, KU Registrar Dr Imran Ahmed Siddiqui and Campus Security Officer Muhammad Salman rushed to the site. The KU officials questioned the KDA team about the legality of their actions and asked them to show official documents, court orders, or written directives that authorized them to take possession of the land. However, KDA officers were unable to provide any documentation.

Instead, tensions escalated when members of the KU Watch and Ward staff attempted to resist the encroachment. University staff alleged that the KDA officials used abusive language, manhandled guards, and issued threats of arrest. The confrontation attracted the attention of students, who gathered at the scene, chanting slogans against what they called an attempt to "usurp public education land." The KDA team eventually withdrew.

University's response

The KU administration condemned the incident describing it as a blatant violation of the institution's autonomy and property rights. Registrar Dr. Siddiqui stated: "The University of Karachi is a federal chartered academic institution, and its land is dedicated solely to educational purposes. No external body has the authority to seize or encroach upon university land without legal basis. The attempted takeover by KDA officials is unacceptable, unlawful, and will be resisted at every level."

The Karachi University Teachers' Society (KUTS) expressed outrage, issuing a statement that accused the KDA of "institutional bullying." The society said that such encroachments not only threatened the integrity of the university but also challenged higher education in Sindh.

KUTS President Prof. Dr. Shahid Rasool said: "The land of KU is not for commercial exploitation. It is a national asset for research, teaching, and knowledge production. If the KDA or any other department attempts to dispossess the university of its rightful property, the academic community will launch a strong movement and will not hesitate to protest on the streets."

Land disputes

Land around the University of Karachi has long been a subject of contention. Established in 1951, the university occupies one of the largest campuses in Pakistan, spanning over 1,200 acres in Gulshan-i-Iqbal. Over the decades, multiple attempts have been reported by different state and private actors to occupy parts of the university's property.

In the past, portions of land on the periphery of KU were encroached upon by housing societies and commercial projects, prompting repeated protests by the administration. University officials argue that these attempts are fueled by the high real-estate value of the land, given its central location and vast size.

The latest incident comes amid growing concerns about urban land disputes in Karachi, where state agencies, housing authorities, and private developers frequently clash over property ownership.

Students' Involvement

Friday's confrontation also saw the participation of students, who rushed to the spot after learning of the alleged encroachment. Videos circulated on social media showed students raising slogans in support of the KU administration, demanding that the land remain reserved for academic purposes.