ISLAMABAD: A local university has filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against sealing of its campus at H-8.

In June this year, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) sealed the building built by Riphah International University on an amenity plot for non-conforming use.

The university had established its College of Rehabilitation Science and the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities on the plot.

The CDA had allotted the 9,744 square-yard plot against a nominal payment of Rs974,443 for Jamia Tafheemul Quran (JTQ) on the request of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) leader Prof Khurshid Ahmad.

As per the lease agreement, the allottee could not rent, lease, sell or sublet the plot. But the plot was now being used by Riphah University which established its campus - Women Institute of Health and Sciences (WISH) - a joint venture with the JTQ in 2003.

According to the petition filed by Advocate Khurram Mehmood Qureshi, the CDA sealed the property without any statutory backing. The petition claimed that the CDA ordinance did not provide any authority to the civic agency to seal the building without giving any prior notice.

It said the CDA had allotted the plot for educational purpose to JTQ and Riphah was providing educational and academics support to run the campus.

The petition contended that CDA’s unilateral action had put the future of over 1,200 female students at stake.

It requested the court to set aside the CDA order for sealing the campus.

The IHC single-member bench, comprising Justice Athar Minallah, will hear the petition on August 27.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2018