The dream of setting up Islamia College University (ICU) campuses in the tribal belt will remain just that – something that is marked on an unattainable wish list.
The project, which has been planned since 2007, faced a hiccup at the eleventh hour after Governor Mehtab Ahmad Khan refused to give it the green light.
Insiders familiar with the matter told The Express Tribune Mehtab returned a dossier sent to him by ICU Vice Chancellor Ajmal Khan. The file contained documents to kickstart construction work on the campuses in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, which had to be signed by the governor. However, Mehtab refused to sign it and did not provide a justification for his decision. The dossier was accompanied with a letter to the VC urging him “to focus on [his] campus.”
Speaking to The Express Tribune, ICU officials said the governor had issued the order in total disregard of the headway made on the project.
A well-placed official in the FATA Secretariat said the decision came as a surprise as the governor had asked the ICU administration to begin construction work on the campuses two weeks earlier.
Open and shut
The suggestion to set up ICU campuses in Fata was made in 2007 by the then governor Ali Muhammad Jan Orakzai. He had urged ICU to open more campuses to impart quality education to tribespeople.
According to an insider, a meeting was held in April 2008 between the then additional chief secretary and the VC to implement the project.
“The initial plan was to set up two campuses; one in North Waziristan and the other in Bajaur,” he said. “During the meeting, the ACS had directed the planning and development department to prepare PC-I which was immediately approved by the governor.”
Similarly, a team comprising officials from the ICU and Fata Secretariat visited Mirali, North Waziristan Agency and held meetings with tribal elders and the political administration. As a result, 500 kanals of land was donated towards the cause by tribespeople.
Orakzai’s successor, Owais Ghani, also took special interest in the project and vowed to ensure its completion. With time, NGOs threw their weight behind the cause and managed to attain more land for the varsity campuses. Ownership of the land was transferred to ICU.
The varsity’s administration decided to broaden its horizon and open two more campuses in Sadda and Parachinar in Kurram Agency. The move was aimed at stemming the alarming increase of sectarianism in the area with education. Subsequently, Government Commerce College Parachinar and Avon Public School Sadda offered portions of their buildings for the campuses. ICU allocated Rs10 million for this venture.
However, things took an unpredictable turn when the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan abducted Ajmal in September 2010. The project screeched to a grinding halt even though 95% of work on the project was completed.
After he was released after four years in August 2014, Ajmal took up the matter once again and discussed it with the Pakistan Army. The army pledged support for the project and teams comprising the varsity’s administration and FATA Secretariat officials visited construction sites in March. A final meeting was held with the governor on March 20. During the meeting, Mehtab voiced his willingness to initiate work on the project.
Left in the lurch
Speaking to The Express Tribune, an ICU official said the decision is likely to have drastic implications.
“We have lost the opportunity to do away with sectarianism and militancy in various parts of Fata,” he said.
The ICU official said a large number of students had been admitted into varsity programmes in Kurram Agency.
When contacted, the VC said that work has been stopped on the project.
“The project is still on cards and work is expected to be launched in the near future,” he said.
Mahtab was not available for comments as he was performing Hajj in Saudi Arabia. Additional Chief Secretary Muhammad Aslam Kamboh could not be reached for comments despite several attempts.
When contacted, Minister for State and Frontier Region expressed his ignorance about the matter. “I do not have any information. I can only comment on the FATA University being set up in Darra Adamkhel.”
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