KARACHI: In an unusual development, the Aziz Bhatti Police Station is being relocated inside the Gulshan-e-Iqbal Science Campus of the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST). The move has raised eyebrows among the faculty and triggered anxiety among the student body.
According to sources, the relocation process is already underway. The Investigation Wing of the Aziz Bhatti police has successfully shifted to the space behind the university’s B.Sc. Academic Block. Work on setting up the Station House Officer’s (SHO) office is currently in progress, and the SHO is expected to begin operations from the campus within a few days.
Temporary Permission and Shared Entry Points
Police sources claim that formal permission for the relocation was secured from the university administration, which has reportedly allowed the police station to operate from the campus for a temporary period of six months.
However, the logistical setup has created immediate logistical and security challenges. Complainants and citizens have already started visiting the new campus location. Furthermore, university sources confirmed that police vehicles are frequently moving suspects in and out of the premises. Shockingly, the police are using the exact same entrance gate designated for students and faculty members accessing the Examination Department.
Rising Panic and Management Disconnection
The presence of a fully functioning police station within an educational institution has caused widespread concern. Female students, in particular, have expressed deep fear and discomfort regarding the constant presence of police personnel, suspects, and police mobiles on campus, while the teaching community has expressed sheer disbelief, questioning the logic of placing a law enforcement hub inside a university.
Adding to the controversy, top university officials seem disconnected from the decision. When contacted, the Registrar of FUUAST claimed to have learned about the relocation only recently.
“I do not recall signing any such permission letter,” the Registrar stated. “The campus officer might have better insights; perhaps they secured permission directly from the Vice-Chancellor. In any case, a police station should not exist inside a university campus.”
