GUJRANWALA, Aug 30: Non-provision of a Rs300 million special grant to the Punjab University has delayed expansion of its Gujranwala Campus, Dawn has learnt.

Under the expansion plan, the university had to acquire 10 acres agricultural land, construct new blocks at the campus and begin MA English and journalism classes.

The Punjab government had promised to provide Rs300 million for Gujranwala Campus expansion when President Musharraf visited the campus a few months ago. In the hope that the government will release the grant soon, the university administration acquired land from people, but later it could not register it due to a lack of funds.

Construction work on new blocks also remained suspended owing to a lack of funds and as a result the university could not begin new master’s classes.

Punjab University’s Gujranwala Campus Director Dr Liaquat said the university administration and the provincial government had been informed about the prevailing situation. However, he said the expansion plan would be completed soon.

It was stated that several rich people had also promised to provide money for the campus expansion in the presence of the president and Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi, but they had yet to honour their promises.

REJECTED: The local anti terrorism court has rejected interim bail of main character in the Sialkot jail case, former SHO inspector Zulfikar Virk. Subsequently, police arrested him on Thursday.

According to the prosecution, accused was arrested by police following the July, 23, 2003, operation in which four judges had also been killed. But he escaped from police custody on June 23, 2005, when he was to be produced before the court. He appeared in the court a few days ago and got interim bail with the plea that he escaped as police wanted to kill him in an encounter.

During the hearing of the case, the Sialkot Civil Lines police presented a supplementary charge sheet declaring the accused as innocent.

The complainant, advocate Syed Ghulam Abbas Bukhari, father of slain judge

Shaheryar Bukhari, strongly contested the police findings.