ISLAMABAD: The new administration of Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) broke silence on Tuesday over land encroachment issue as it requested Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration to help the university vacate over 400 kanals illegally acquired land of the varsity. “As the government has started anti-encroachment drive across the country, hence the university has also requested the local administration that the university land should also be cleared from all illegal encroachments,” it said in a statement. At the same time, the QAU also warned the encroachers to vacate the land. “All the illegal encroachers on the university land are hereby directed to vacate it immediately,” warned the varsity adding that in case of failure, the government would launch an operation for their evacuation. It also made clear that illegal encroachers will be responsible for any damage/loss in this regard. According to information, the QAU was facing its land encroachment issues by local villagers and some influential politicians since last many years. According to a fresh report by the Survey of Pakistan, which is an attached entity of the Ministry of Defence, currently the varsity has a shortfall of 450 acres of allotted land from the government granted on the time of its establishment. The survey report submitted to parliamentary committee recently by the university, stated that initially, the university was allotted 1,709 acres of land by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) while currently it lacks 450 acres of that allotted piece. The documents revealed that 298 acres of land is under occupation of locals living inside the university illegally while 152 acres lack in the CDA layout plan. The list of the institution’s land grabbers also includes the name of former senate chairman Syed Nayyar Bukhari and some other influential land grabbers. The encroachers not only constructed their homes but they also used a major part of the grabbed land for cultivation which according to the report is 2,076 kanals. The educationists were of the opinion that illegal encroachment was a major hindrance in the way to maintain foolproof security in varsity. They added that the security situation in QAU could not be idealised until the encroachments were not cleared completely. “To make things worse, anyone entering the university could spot cattle and cows crowding one part of the university’s lawns,” said an official wishing anonymity. Newly appointed QAU Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Ali Shah resolved to make his best efforts to vacate university land. Moreover, QAU Alumni Association also announced a peaceful protest against illegal occupation of the land. According to the general secretary of the association, Murtaza Noor, it was decided during a meeting of Joint Action Committee comprising of representatives of QAU Alumni Association and Academic Staff Association (ASA) of the varsity a peaceful protest would be staged today (Wednesday) at 2pm in front of the National Press Club. He said that the representatives in the meeting also expressed serious concerns that despite passage of another year, no concrete step has been undertaken to get QAU land vacated by illegal occupants. He added that during recent interaction of senior members from QAU Alumni Association and office bearers of ASA QAU with QAU VC Dr Muhammad Ali Shah, it was revealed that despite payment for 1,709 acres, QAU is having shortfall of 450 acres of allotted land due to illegal occupation. The joint action committee also demanded to the concerned authorities of federal government to resolve this long pending issue on immediate basis without any further delay. The anti-encroachment drive should include end of illegal occupation of complete encroached QAU land, on priority basis. Published in Daily Times, January 2nd 2019.