Important documents have surfaced regarding the Mufti Mahmood Centre, located along Peshawar’s Ring Road, revealing details about its land acquisition, construction, foreign funding and encroachments on government land.
According to the documents and media reports, approximately 79 kanals of land for the centre were purchased in 2003 and registered in the name of Maulana Fazlur Rehman. Reports further allege that funds for the construction were obtained from Libya under a purported scheme, raising questions about the source and utilisation of the foreign funding.
Drone footage of the centre reportedly shows a metal-framed enclosure along its outer perimeter, extending into the 52-foot setback area designated for the Peshawar Ring Road. The structure has allegedly encroached upon the government’s right-of-way, resulting in the occupation of public land.
According to official records, a joint technical survey conducted by the Peshawar Development Authority (PDA), district administration, Capital Metropolitan Government and Pakhtunkhwa Highways Authority found that the centre’s outer perimeter, boundary wall and security installations extended beyond the officially designated limits, encroaching upon the highway corridor.
The documents further reveal that a final show-cause and demolition notice was issued to the centre’s administration on October 27, 2019. The notice directed the administration to voluntarily remove the alleged encroachments within three days, warning that failure to comply would result in demolition by the authorities.
However, the alleged encroachments remained in place. A fresh notice concerning the encroachments was reportedly issued to the centre’s administration in May 2026, indicating that the matter had been raised with the management previously.
Separately, questions have been raised about the financial arrangements for the construction of the Mufti Mahmood Centre and its associated institutional facilities. Media reports have claimed that the Libyan government directly financed the project. However, details regarding the source, amount and utilisation of the alleged foreign funding, as well as the relevant financial records, require clarification. The revelations have renewed questions about the enforcement of land-use regulations and the occupation of public property in Peshawar.
Authorities have been urged to ensure that anti-encroachment operations and efforts to reclaim government land are carried out without discrimination, irrespective of the institution, organisation or political affiliation involved.
