TIMERGARA, March 17: Political leaders and students of Malakand have called upon the provincial authorities to withdraw their decision to close down the Sharingal campus of Malakand University.

The decision followed a move by NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani to allot half of the land belonging to the campus to the Forest Development Corporation.

The political leaders and elders urged the government not to take any action which was unacceptable to the people.

Students’ organisations have expressed concern over the decision and said they would launch a movement to save the university.

Several sports organisations have promised to back students’ groups in resisting attempts to shut down the campus.

Sources told Dawn on Thursday that the decision would have an adverse effect on the University Public School, affiliated colleges, pharmacy research centre and the forest department of Malakand University.

“It will affect the future of students and put the careers of dozens of employees into jeopardy,” the sources said.

In 2002, the Higher Education Commission had allocated funds for the establishment of the Sharingal campus and research centre. Hundreds of students were given admission in various disciplines at the campus.

The sources said that the then managing director of the Forest Development Corporation had agreed to allocate 51 acres of land for the establishment of the university campus at Sharingal in Upper Dir and a residential colony had also been vacated for university employees.

The NWFP governor had issued a notification on Aug 4, 2004, allotting the entire plot of land to Malakand University.

However, on Jan 9, 2006, the chief minister revoked the decision and ordered that half the land be returned to the FDC.