King Edward Medical University acting Vice Chancellor Professor Asad Aslam has formed an inquiry committee to probe the incident of alleged sexual harassment of a student by the university PRO Dr Tabassum. A KEMU doctor aid a scene was created in the Pathology Department of the KEMU on Saturday when second year student from the Speech Therapy department of Allied Health Sciences Madiha exchanged harsh words with Dr Tabassum, who allegedly chased her from his office to get back a mobile with some voice recording in it. The episode was witnessed by security guards and other female doctors on the scene. The doctor further said the mobile was now with Psychiatry Department Head Professor Riaz Bhatti. The probe committee consists of Professor Dr Fareed A khan, Professor Dr Samina Naeem and Professor Dr Waseem Yousaf. Committee Chair Professor Fareed A Khan confirmed he was heading the committee and said it would meet on Thursday (today) to determine the facts. He said he could only comment after the inquiry since he had not talked to either party.
KEMU VC Professor Asad Aslam however said he constituted an inquiry committee as soon as he was made aware of the incident. “However, hours later the girl came to my office with her mother and gave in writing that Dr Tabassum was like an uncle and was their family physician and they had no grievances against him.” Professor Alsam said a copy of the statement had been forwarded to the health secretary. He denied having pressurized the family to withdraw the charges. He further said Professor Samina is leaving the country for vacations and he would propose another name. He said he had tried to contact Professor Bhatti but had been unable to get through to him. Dr Tabassum denied the allegations and claimed the family had been his regular patients for 25 years and the incident was fabricated for ‘political motives’. He claimed the issue was baseless since the girl had submitted in writing that no such incident had taken place.
