PESHAWAR: The residents of Village Council Topcheiyan, Essakhel, an area lying on the outskirts of Peshawar, on Friday deplored that they had provided lands for construction of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University and a college, but the federal and the provincial governments failed to give them jobs in the institutions as per commitment made with them.

They threatened to forcibly shut the university if their demand was not met within next 10 days.

Speaking at the Peshawar Press Club on Friday, Amanullah, the nazim Essakhel, flanked by scores of locals, said the people had given their lands for establishment of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University and Paiyat College Peshawar on the condition they would be given priority in recruitments at the two institutions. But, he alleged the university administration had ignored the local people in recruitment process.

In this regard, he added an agreement was also signed between the provincial government led by late chief minister Arbab Mohammad Jehangir Khan and the then deputy commissioner with the local people. He pointed out that a large number of people belonging to Nowshera, Mardan, Charsadda, Kohat and Bannu, had been recruited in the university, which was violation of the agreement.

Mr Amanullah said as many as 200 to 250 people from outside had been appointed against class-IV and other positions.

He said the university administration deliberately skipped out the documents of talented and qualified people of the area for recruitment.

The nazim said the university vice chancellor had also assured the local people during a meeting to implement the agreement, but to no effect.

According to recent delimitation of local government department, he said both the educational institutions had come in the jurisdiction of village council Topcheiyan EssaKhel, and it was duty of the provincial government to fulfill its commitment and give priority to local people in jobs.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2017