ISLAMABAD, July 20: The Frontier Constabulary has forcibly occupied a youth hostel in Quetta run by Pakistan Youth Hostels Association (PYHA) after laying siege to the hostel and the residence of its secretary who was allegedly abused for refusing to hand over the keys.
Agha Afzaal Hussain, honorary National Secretary of the PYHA, said that the Frontier Constabulary occupied the youth hostel on Wednesday-Thursday (July 16-17) night despite hostel management’s repeated requests not to do so.
A statement issued by the PYHA management said that district authorities in Quetta had approached the PYHA management earlier and demanded the Quetta youth hostel takeover.
They were, however, informed that the hostel was a private charitable trust property and it is meant for short visits by the youth. The statement said that the PHYA National Secretary also talked to Mr Rahim Kakar, the District Nazim of Quetta, and FC Commandant in Quetta, by phone, and asked them not to occupy the hostel as it would be an illegal act.
A statement by the secretary said that a contingent of the FC Jawans surrounded the hostel and kept its staff hostage for several hours.
Another FC contingent led by a Major surrounded the hostel’s secretary and abused him in the presence of the neighbours. But the secretary refused to give them the keys of the hostel, the statement said.
However, on the night of July 16-17, the FC contingent broke open the gates and locks of the hostel and occupied it forcibly. This act of highhandedness was not only illegal, but also deprived the youth of a decent and affordable accommodation in Quetta during this busy summer, the PHYA said.
The PYHA management has urged the government to instruct the Quetta Corps Commander and FC officials to vacate the hostel immediately and find an alternative accommodation for the FC Jawans elsewhere.
The PYHA is a non-governmental voluntary charitable trust, registered under the Trust Act, 1890. It is a member of International Youth Hostel Federation, UK. Malik Meraj Khalid, the late prime minister, was the chairman of the trust until his death in June. All hostels and other assets of the Association are vested in the Trust. The association provides affordable and clean accommodation to the touring youth, professors and teachers to promote healthy activities among the youth.
The association is operating 18 youth hostels across the country, including one at Quetta. A committee managing the Quetta hostel is headed by Justice (retd) Abdul Rashid, Vice Chancellor of the Balochistan University. Former Senator Fasih Iqbal, Editor of Balochistan Times is the vice chairman of the PHYA.
The PHYA’s former president includes Lady Viqar-un-Nisa Noon, the former federal minister and wife of late Prime Minister Malik Feroze Khan Noon, and Senator Wasim Sajjad.