Minhaj encroaching on public roads

LAHORE: Construction material for work at Minhajul Quran, an institution founded by Prof Tahirul Qadri who left the country and went in self exile three years ago, is encroaching two roads in Township.

Township residents told The Express Tribune that they were facing problems due to the closure of the roads. They said they had lodged complaints with the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) but no action had been taken so far.

An LDA official told The Express Tribune that action is planned but has been deferred until Eid-ul-Fitr. For its part, the LDA administration has closed another road in the area in the name of security.

Minhajul Quran started expanding 18 months ago. Since then, the institution has blocked the surrounding roads with construction material. Cement, sand and steel have been lying on the newly constructed roads. The LDA constructed these roads at an estimate cost of Rs4 million some two years ago.

The road passing in front of the main gate of the institution has been completely encroached, while the other is inoperative due to the construction material. “We face a lot of problems due to the closure of these roads. Now we have to take a detour to go to the main road,” said Shakeel Awan, a resident. “The sand and crush have been scattered on roads unevenly. If motorcyclists try to cross it, they risk skidding,” said Awan. He said some of the residents had talked to the administration of the institution, but were given a cold shoulder.

“We are shocked by the administration’s behaviour. They are least bothered about the problems of the people,” said another resident Zeeshan Chand. “These people preach and are so fond of talking about how they are serving humanity but in fact they are just causing inconvenience to their neighbours,” said another resident Rasheed Alam.

The institution also tried to encroach on one of the biggest parks in Township three years back, with an area of around 4 acres, but thankfully LDA foiled the attempt, said Alam, adding that the LDA needed to be vigilant and resolute once again.

Qazi Faizul Islam, media and public relations director of Minhaj-ul-Quran said that the roads were closed due to security reasons. He said that the security of students was foremost and the institution would not open the roads any time soon. He said that the institution had been under threat ever since Tahirul Qadri gave a religious decree against the terrorists. He said its neighbours had to be patient.

Published in  The Express Tribune, August 30^th, 2010.