KARACHI:
A tense standoff erupted at the University of Karachi (KU) on Friday when officials from the Karachi Development Authority (KDA), accompanied by police personnel, allegedly attempted to occupy a piece of land within the university campus. The move, described by KU authorities as an “illegal land grab,” was halted after university officials, faculty, and students confronted the team and demanded proper legal documentation, which the KDA reportedly failed to provide.
According to sources at the university, the KDA team arrived at Gate No. 1 near the Jubilee Gate entrance, bringing construction materials and police vehicles. They began placing wooden stakes, marking boundaries, and erecting signboards on a vacant plot adjacent to the main gate.
KU Registrar Dr. Imran Ahmed Siddiqui and Campus Security Officer Muhammad Salman quickly arrived at the scene after receiving reports of the activity. They questioned the KDA team regarding the legality of their actions and requested official documents, court orders, or written directives authorizing them to take possession of the land. The KDA officials, however, were unable to present any such documentation.
Tensions escalated when KU Watch and Ward staff resisted the encroachment. University staff alleged that KDA officials used abusive language, manhandled security personnel, and even threatened arrests. Students quickly gathered at the site, chanting slogans against what they described as an attempt to “usurp public education land.” The KDA team eventually withdrew.
University Condemns Move
The KU administration strongly condemned the incident, calling it a blatant violation of the university’s autonomy and property rights. Dr. Siddiqui emphasized, “The University of Karachi is a federal chartered academic institution, and its land is dedicated solely to educational purposes. No external authority can seize or encroach upon university land without legal justification. The attempted takeover by KDA officials is unacceptable and unlawful, and it will be resisted at every level.”
The Karachi University Teachers’ Society (KUTS) also expressed outrage, accusing the KDA of “institutional bullying.” KUTS President Prof. Dr. Shahid Rasool said, “KU land is not for commercial exploitation. It is a national asset for research, teaching, and knowledge production. If the KDA or any other department tries to dispossess the university, the academic community will respond strongly, including street protests if necessary.”
History of Land Disputes
The land surrounding KU has long been a point of contention. Established in 1951, the university spans over 1,200 acres in Gulshan-i-Iqbal, making it one of the largest campuses in Pakistan. Over the years, several attempts by state and private actors to occupy parts of KU land have been reported, often due to its high real estate value. Past encroachments by housing societies and commercial projects have repeatedly triggered protests by the university administration.
Students Stand Firm
Friday’s confrontation saw active participation from students, who rushed to the site after learning of the alleged encroachment. Social media videos captured students raising slogans in support of the university and demanding that the land remain reserved for academic use.
