June 16, 2006	Friday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 19, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, June 15: The Quaid-i-Azam University administration is fighting hard to save the university’s precious land from encroachment by the influential locals, Dawn has learnt.

The university, having around 2,000 acres of land, had witnessed unrest during mid-90s when its employees got divided over construction of a housing colony near the campus. One section of the faculty, which later on prevailed, was of the view that the university’s land should only be used for academic purpose, while a majority of both teaching and non-teaching employees favoured construction of a housing colony.

During that time the university remained closed for some time. However, later on the university was given land in G- 14/4 for a housing colony and the issue was resolved once and for all.

Now when the university has embarked upon a huge development plan, land-grabbers backed by local influential people are trying to grab the university’s land. Noticing this activity, the university administration has already written to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to earmark the entire boundary of the university.

The other day when the university administration saw some illegal construction in the area, it immediately reported the matter to the CDA, which stopped the construction activity. However, some locals came to the university’s administration block and threatened the project officials with dire consequences. The university has also got registered an FIR with the police station concerned in this regard.

When Dr Fayyaz Chaudhry, the QAU Resident Officer, was contacted, he said that the issue had been resolved due to their timely action. He said they had also requested the CDA to demarcate the land. “We are keeping a close check, especially on the peripheral area of the university,” Dr Chaudhry said.

In response to a question, he clarified that the people living in the university’s vicinity were those who had taken compensation from the government of their land.