In the Baqirabad area of Multan, there is a two-storied building that looks like a haunted bungalow. It appears abandoned, with broken doors, windows, and dirt scattered around. The rooms are dark, and their walls are in disrepair, while the ceilings are covered in cobwebs.

Except for stray dogs and drug addicts, no one else seems to enter this building.

This building has been in the same condition for the past sixteen years. It was supposed to be a madrassa where a model school was planned to be established.

The federal government initiated this project in 2006-07, allocating eight crore 45 lakh rupees for building five model madrasas in Multan, Bahawalpur, Pakpattan, Lahore, and Gujranwala. During Pervez Musharraf’s time as the leader, Pakistan was involved in the war against terrorism and faced terrorist attacks.

The project aimed to give students in madrassas both scientific and religious education, aligning with modern needs and preparing them for higher university studies.

A budget of one crore 66 lakh rupees was assigned for constructing the model madrassa on three kanals and 15 marlas of land. The construction was finished as planned, but no further funds were released for the project when the government changed. The building comprises 22 classrooms, the principal’s office, and rooms for teachers.

Muhammad Zahid Khalid, a resident living near the madrassa Shah Rukn Alam, mentions that after approximately seven years of construction, teaching started in 2014. However, due to a dispute, the classes had to stop after a few days.

In 2014, the administration of a nearby girls’ madrassa used the premises of the Model Madrasa for a few days but did not vacate it on time, causing the issue.

Mohammad Shehzad Hussain Jafari, a lawyer representing the endowment department in the courts at that time, tells LokSajag that they took over the building of the Model Madrassa and converted it into a teaching hall.

“When the endowment department tried to vacate it, the management of the girls’ madrassa allegedly resisted under the patronage of influential people. But finally, the department succeeded in vacating it.”

According to the records of the Awqaf Department, in 2014, they planned to lease the vacant building through an auction for medical or educational purposes. A non-refundable goodwill amount of Rs 50 lakh and a monthly rent of Rs one lakh were required to participate in the auction. However, Rao Muhammad Umar Hayat, an official of the local citizens and area residents’ organisation, obtained a court stay order on the auction issue.

In the same year, he applied in the Lahore High Court Multan Bench that this place is in the name of Baqirabad Eid Gah, which the Awqaf Department has used for a model seminary. Now it is being auctioned for lease, which is illegal.

However, after a two-year court battle, the petitioner withdrew the case on December 15, 2016.

This year, the Multan Endowment Department sent a summary to the Director of State Endowment expressing concern about the poor condition of this building. The suggestion was to activate the building by leasing it for medical and educational activities. For the lease auction, the non-refundable amount has been reduced to Rs 20 lakh, and the proposed monthly rent is Rs 120,000.

The summary also mentions that the party leasing the building will be responsible for repairing it. The department has acknowledged not having enough financial resources to run the madrassa.

The District Manager of the Awqaf Department, Syed Ayazul Hasan Gilani, informs LokSajag that they had requested the higher authorities to utilise this building for hospital or educational activities. However, they received a reply stating it would be restored as a model madrassa.

“The problem is that some citizens object if they use it for other purposes. This case has been heard in court before. The non-functionality of the building is causing loss to the national exchequer. We want it to be restored and put to use for the public good.”

Rao Muhammad Umar Hayat’s lawyer, Mehr Muhammad Ramzan Sial, says that the endowment department has utterly neglected this building. Due to their incompetence, the building is becoming a ruin. They believe that this building should be functional for the purpose for which it was built.

Mohammad Shiraz Afzal from New Multan expressed regret over this situation. He wanted to admit his two sons to this model madrasa to provide them with modern and religious education, but his wish could not be fulfilled. He believes that if this madrassa had been established, it could have paved the way for building religious madrasas on modern lines according to the requirements of the time.