ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Tuesday sealed Sir Syed Memorial Society’s building due to non-conforming use.

The building was sealed in January this year as well but was opened on court directions and subject to conditions.

The building has been housing a private educational institute- the Centre for Advanced Studies in Engineering (Case)- and a research institute by the name of Care for many years. Some 1,300 students are currently enrolled in Case.

“Under the court’s orders, we gave Case two months to move out of the building but they did not comply which is why we sealed the entire complex today,” said Director CDA Building Control Section Shafi Marwat.

According to the CDA, the plot was being used for commercial purposes, which was in contradiction to the purpose on its allocation letter.

The Sir Syed Memorial Society (SSMS) was formed in 1984 by the Aligarh Old Boys’ Association as a tribute to Sir Syed Ahmed Khan.

The CDA had allotted a 24 kanal plot on Ataturk Avenue in G-5 to the SSMS for the construction of an auditorium, library, reading room and museum.

However, according to the CDA, SSMS has been renting out a large portion of the complex for many years now and a private educational institute and a private research institute operate out of the building.

“No one cares about education. Our institute was sealed today which is unjust to us and our students,” said Case Dean Academics Khawaja Shafaat Ahmed Bazaz, who said the CDA’s action was “not logical”.

“We are promoting education. Is running an educational institute a crime? We also filed an application with the CDA, requesting them to give us a year to move out, but they did not consider our application and sealed our building all of a sudden,” he said, adding that Case should have been given the requested time as other private institute were granted the same.

The dean said only Case and Care were sealed and not all of the SSMS building.

On the other hand, the director building control said the entire building was sealed and that the CDA has nothing to do with Case or Care which are only tenants.

“According to our records, SSMS was allotted the plot and today we sealed their building,” he said, adding that according to the agreement, the plot could not be used for commercial purposes. He said the renting of the building to Case and Care was a violation of the agreement.

“G-5 falls in the Red Zone and commercial educational institutions, not even public sector ones, cannot operate in that area,” the director said, adding that the CDA had delayed sealing the building for years because of students.

“We issued a number of notices to SSMS and Case management to vacate the building but they did not cooperate,” he said, adding that Case management is responsible for any losses and difficulties the students will have to face and not the CDA.

“In the interests of its students, Case should have opted for a purpose built building instead of operating in the SSMS building,” he said.

SSMS is currently suspended and the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration is running its affairs via a caretaker.

Before April 2016, SSMS was run by a 15-member executive committee which also includes more than five members from Case and the president of which was retired Brig Iqbal M Shafi.

Disagreement between some employees and the executive committee had drawn the attention of the city district administration, which asked the executive committee to clarify its position on a number of charges and was not satisfied with the response furnished.

On April 4, 2016 the ICT administration sealed some of the society’s offices, suspended the executive committee and appointed a caretaker body under an ICT officer to run the society’s affairs.

The building also houses a museum and according to the CDA, the entire building was sealed for fear of loss or damage to the property inside.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2017