MARDAN: Members of a jirga and a large number of residents on Monday demonstrated against the provincial government’s plan to sell the land of three universities, a medical college and service road of the Mardn Bypass Road here.

Loya Jirga Mardan organised the protest with the participants marching from the College Chowk to the commissioner’s office. The protesters carried banners and placards inscribed with slogans opposing the land sellout.

On the occasion, the jirga leaders asked the provincial government to take back its decision. They said that the residents of Mardan district would never accept the ‘irrational’ move.

They accused the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, which has been ruling Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for last 11 years, of adopting policies detrimental to the promotion of education in the province.

They also regretted that on one hand the PTI government claimed to have enforced an education emergency in the province, but on the other it was planning to sell out lands and properties of universities and colleges.

The protesters warned of resisting the move to sell out the land of three varsities and a medical college in Mardan.

After the protest, a delegation of the jirga members met deputy commissioner Mian Behzad Adil, and apprised him of their concerns over the government’s plan.

Jirga president Imran Mandori, Mardan city mayor Himayatullah Mayar, president of Mardan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Zahir Shah, president press club Mohammad Bashir Adil and representatives of political parties were part of the delegation.

The deputy commissioner assured the delegates that their demands would be conveyed to the provincial government.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2024