College land grab sparks crackdown

Authorities halt illegal construction on Jamia Millia Govt College land

KARACHI:

A dispute over alleged land encroachment at the historic Jamia Millia Government College Karachi has escalated, prompting swift action from the College Education Department after reports of illegal construction on the institution's property surfaced.

According to official correspondence, Regional Director Colleges Sindh Gulab Rai wrote to the Deputy Commissioner of District Korangi and the Director of Anti-Encroachment, urging immediate intervention to stop unauthorised construction within the college premises, particularly on its playground area.

The letters referenced a formal complaint submitted by the college principal and findings of a four-member fact-finding committee constituted to investigate the matter. The committee visited the site on April 20 and confirmed that illegal construction activities were underway within the college boundary by alleged encroachers.

The report termed the land a public asset and recommended urgent action to halt further encroachment in the interest of students and the institution.

Following these developments, College Education Department officials carried out a field operation on Monday morning, temporarily stopping the ongoing construction activities. The action was conducted with the assistance of Assistant Commissioner Shah Faisal Colony Abdul Sammi, Mukhtiarkar Muzafar Mirani, and local police.

During the operation, construction work being carried out at the rear portion of the college land was halted, and installed signboards related to the construction were also removed.

Sources further revealed that part of the college land is already under litigation in court, prompting the department to consider formally joining the legal proceedings to safeguard institutional property.

The fact-finding committee, which recommended immediate action, included Additional Director Inspection Colleges Kamran Akram Sheikh, Principal Government College of Commerce and Economics Mansoor Ali Shahani, Deputy Director Legal Fakhra Mubarak, and Assistant Director Arif Najmi.

Officials reiterated that the land is a public educational asset and vowed to pursue legal and administrative measures to prevent further encroachment.