UoP reclaims Rs5b bungalow after 22-year battle

Property to fund scholarships for needy students

PESHAWAR:

After a 22-year legal struggle, the University of Peshawar has finally taken possession of a bungalow worth Rs5 billion located on Gul Maher Lane in University Town.

The property, spread over more than nine kanals, was dedicated through a registered waqf deed dated January 2, 1974, by the late Begum Kulsoom Amin Durrani. She had endowed it for the welfare of students and the provision of scholarships to deserving students. Income generated from the property is expected to support up to 350 scholarships for needy students of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

The university approached a civil court on September 21, 2004, seeking legal title and possession of the property. After prolonged proceedings, the civil court on June 22, 2013, declared the property a waqf, recognised the UoP as its mutawalli (trustee), and restrained the defendants from selling or transferring it.

An appeal against the decision was dismissed by the Additional District Judge-II, Peshawar, on November 15, 2023. The Peshawar High Court vacated the stay order on March 23, 2025, and later dismissed civil revision petitions filed by the opposing party on October 15, 2026.

To enforce the court orders, the executing court's civil judge directed the SSP Operations, Peshawar, on October 9, 2026, to provide police force along with the court bailiff so that possession could be handed over to the university's authorised officer. On Friday, October 16, the court bailiff transferred possession of the bungalow to the Registrar of the UoP in compliance with the judicial directives.