PESHAWAR, Sept 14: The NWFP government has planned to convert the abandoned University of Dawa Al-Jihad at the Jalozai refugee camp into an Islamic university, officials said.

The Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees and elders of the Jalozai locality had suggested to the government to take over the abandoned university building and set up an educational institution there.

Administration Department Secretary Ghulam Hussain, Higher Education Secretary Sahibzada Mohammad Khalid and other officials inspected the site on Monday. The Dawa Al-Jihad university was closed down in the aftermath of the Egyptian embassy bombing in Islamabad in 1994, sources said.

Mr Hussain told Dawn on Tuesday that various proposals were under consideration to utilize the building for people's benefit, particularly local population. "It can be used for science and technology, information technology or other educational activities," said Mr Hussain. He added that the building was in good shape and required only minor repair.

Afghan Jihadi leader Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf had established the university at Jalozai refugee camp in mid 1980s, 30 kilometre east of Peshawar. The now abandoned university, sprawling over 100 kanals, had Arabic, medical, engineering, Islamic jurisprudence and literature faculties with hostels, library and laboratories.

During the Afghan war the university became one of the famous learning institutions in the region where more than 1,000 Afghan and Arab students were taught various disciplines.

The alleged 9/11 event mastermind, Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, who is now in the US custody, had also worked in the university, the sources claimed. He was stated to be one of the close aides to Mr Sayyaf at that time. An official disclosed that the campus was housing a detention centre where opponents were interrogated.