ISLAMABAD: A Senate body was shocked to learn that the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), which has been allotted over 700 acres in sector H-10, is still holding onto offices and an academy located on the premises of its old campus, Faisal Mosque.

In a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, during a discussion on sanitation and the maintenance of the mosque, CDA representatives informed the committee that IIUI also had several offices on the mosque’s premises.

Earlier, officials from civic agency admitted that the janitorial condition of the mosque was not up to the mark for some days and blamed the situation on the non-payment of dues to the contractor, owing to delays in the release of funds by the federal government.

A CDA working paper, submitted in response to a public petition, claimed that at present, 20 people were available for cleaning and janitorial services at the mosque.

“Baggage scanner was procured for [scanning] delegates’/VIP baggage [but remains non-operational] due to non availability of expert operator, to be deputed by ICT police,” the working paper revealed.

Senators ask why varsity still possesses Faisal Mosque buildings despite being allotted land in H-10

CDA officials told the committee that besides other issues, the civic body was facing challenges in looking after the mosque’s affairs because certain portions of the structure, such as an auditorium and hostels, were in IIUI’s possession.

At this, the committee directed CDA to improve its working and take steps to improve the condition of the mosque and its premises, while committee members resolved to raise their voice against what they called the “illegal occupation of the mosque’s premises” by the university.

“IIUI has been allotted an entire sector, but it still holds possession of some buildings at its old campus in Faisal Mosque. This is illogical, they have to move out. The committee will help the CDA in this regard,” observed Senator Talha Mehmood, who chairs the committee.

He said that CDA had already committed an injustice by allotting H-10 to IIUI. But despite having an entire sector to themselves, the IIUI still holds offices and runs a Dawa Academy in its old campus.

“What is the CDA doing? Why was an entire sector allotted to IIUI; why was a big chunk of land allotted to Shifa Hospital at discounted rates,” asked PML-N Senator Kalsoom Parveen.

A CDA official also told the committee that IIUI had forcefully occupied the mosque’s premises, despite being allotted the land for a limited period.

“The IIUI administration has also received millions of dollars in grants, given by the Saudi government for Faisal Mosque,” he said.

The official also alleged that IIUI had not vacated offices in the mosque’s cafeteria, a store in the space reserved for aitekaf, a hostel and the mosque’s bookshop.

The committee directed Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed and IIUI Rector Dr Masoom Yasinzai to attend the next meeting and brief the body on the issue. It was also decided that the committee would visit the mosque to inspect the buildings that were in IIUI’s possession.

In a late night statement, an IIUI spokesperson said that under the university’s act, it was the caretaker of the entire mosque and its adjoining buildings.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2017

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