ISLAMABAD, Nov 22: Pouring cold water on the expectations of H-9 College students, Federal Minister for Capital Administration and Development (CAD) Nazar Mohammad Gondal on Wednesday legalised the occupation of their hostel by Pakistan Baitul Maal (PBM) by inaugurating a sweet home for orphans in the building.
Students from far-off areas of the country and studying in the college were disappointed over the move as they have been forced to live in private hostels for the last many years.
A teacher in the college on the condition of anonymity told Dawn that it was the only male F.G. college which used to provide accommodation to its students. But in 2001, on the instructions of the then education minister Zubaida Jalal, about 100 students from Balochistan, who had taken admission to the Comsats Institute of Information Technology, were accommodated in the hostel for one year. However, at the end of the one year, Comsats refused to vacate the hostel situated on the premises of the college,” he said. In August this year, when Comsats finally decided to leave, the students were shocked to know that the building had already been handed over to the PBM.
The management of the PBM deputed security officials and banned entry of any college official into the building. This was done without taking into consideration the needs of the students coming from Balochistan, Fata, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir and other far-flung areas.
Zahoor Khan, a student of the college, said: “We do not object to orphans’ right to good accommodation but they could have been provided a hostel somewhere else. Poor students belonging to the distant areas have no choice but to live in private hostels.”
Munir Ahmed, another student, added: “The students were ignored because they have no access to influential personalities.”
An officer in the FDE administration said: “Till now, there is no agreement that may justify this unwanted act. The participation of principals of colleges in the inaugural ceremony proves the perception that there are many ‘Yes men’ in the education department who are always ready to facilitate such actions for their personal gains.”
He said if the PBM wants to extend its functions of public welfare, it should have constructed its own building.
When contacted, Shahnaz A. Riaz, the director general of the FDE, told Dawn that the hostel was handed over to the PBM long before she took over.
Despite repeated attempts, Minister Gondal could not be contacted. His media coordinator Mohammad Saleh, however, said grievances of the students would be conveyed to the minister.