Land for Sale at Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad: Happy Birthday Quaid-e Azam

Land for Sale at Quaid-e-Azam University: Happy Birthday Quaid e Azam

It saddens me to the core to read this opinion article about land grabbing at one of the most prestigious universities of the country. Educational institutions are pride of a nation and Quaid-e-Azam is undoubtedly Pakistan's Pride. Unfortunately, we as a nation are not very proud of our national assets. Quaid e Azam university is the highest ranking university of Pakistan, a fact that is a source of pride for all of us. Sadly, this fact doesn't make our elite proud, but perhaps jealous. 

Quaid e Azam University

An Ex-Chairman Senate of Pakistan, who is also an influential local landlord has not only challenged the authorities including the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the University administration, but has totally disregarded the sacred value that educational institutions usually possess, if not in Pakistan but elsewhere in the world.

Quaid-e-Azam University spreads over 1,702 acres of land, out of which dozens of acres have been captured by the local elite. Not just this, but a dedicated road link has also been created, naming it after the surname of the Ex-Chairman himself. It won't be long, until we start seeing advertisements for Land for Sale in Quad-e Azam university. We all know very well that property business is the most lucrative business in Pakistan.

      

However, there is another side to this story as well. CDA which is responsible for the administration of Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan, becomes a force to be reckoned with, when it comes to poor illegal dwellers on state land. We have already seen this when the Afghan settlements were removed from sector I-11 near Sabzimandi in Islamabad. A similar alacrity was shown by the Quaid-e-Azam university administration and CDA while removing the illegal dwellers of Pathan colony on university's land. 

My worst fear is that soon we will see a housing colony or elite farm-houses springing all over the university land. This, of course,  will be the saddest day for Pakistan. A day when education will fail and property tycoons will win.  

Today is the one hundred and thirty ninth (139th) birthday of the founder of the nation, Quaid-e-Azam, Mohammad Ali Jinnah. A day, when the fate of millions of Muslims of the sub-continent was changed forever. The least gift that we can give to our Quaid, is to keep his name and ideology alive by keeping the educational institutions like Quaid-e Azam university safe from the hands of land grabbers.

At least, I don't want to see, Land for Sale in Quaid-e Azam university, advertisements. I hope others feel the same.

The End