Upholding the anti-harassment committee’s recommendations, the Syndicate of Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU) on Saturday showed the door to the varsity’s controller of examination and a lecturer after finding them guilty of sexual harassment.
Controller of Examination Sardar Babar and lecturer of Information Technology Department Noorul Mustafa were accused of sexually harassing two female students in two separate cases.
Vice Chancellor (VC) Dr Masoom Yasin Zai had sent the cases to the university’s anti-sexual harassment committee, which recommended the syndicate, the highest decision-making body of the university, to forcefully retire the controller and terminate the service of the lecturer.
The syndicate during its third meeting on the issue endorsed the recommendations and issued final orders. The VC chaired the meeting held at the main campus, which was attended by Sherry Rehman MNA, Faculty of Natural Sciences Dean Prof Dr Qaiser Mushtaq, Justice Nasirul Mulk, Prof Dr Waseem Ahmad from Department of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry Associate Professor Dr Muhammad Ishaq, Prof Rafiq Tahir, former federal minister Khalid Ahmed Kharal, HEC Executive Director Dr Sohail Naqvi, AFPGMI Rawalpindi Commandant Major General Viqar and others.
A source in QAU told Pakistan Today that Justice (r) Fakharun Nisa MNA, who had been strongly opposing the recommendations of the inquiry committee, didn’t turn up in the meeting, apparently in protest. Another syndicate member Prof Dr Qaiser Mushtaq, the dean of the Faculty of Natural Science, strongly opposed the move.
Talking to Pakistan Today, Yasin Zai justified the action, saying after the findings submitted by the committee, the syndicate deliberated the issue at length in three meetings and found the accused guilty.
“The decision will infuse a sense of security amongst the female students of university and serve as a warning to for the rest of the faculty members,” he added.
He said the accused controller and lecturer could challenge the syndicate’s decision in the court of federal ombudsman and before the chancellor of the university.
The case surfaced on June 17 when a female student of Natural Sciences lodged a written complaint with the vice chancellor, accusing the controller examination of sexually harassing her when she visited his office. Following the allegation, the VC constituted a four-member committee to investigate the matter.
And the second case was reported on July 8, when a female student of IT department alleged her teacher Noor-ul-Mustafa of intimidating her. In her application to VC, the victim had contended that Noor asked her to respond to his sexual advances; otherwise, he would fail her.
Talking to Pakistan Today, both the accused said anti-sexual harassment committee gave biased recommendations against them.
“I will file review petition with President Asif Ali Zardari, who is the chancellor of the university,” said the controller examination. A spokesman for QAU said the official notification for the action would be issued in the next couple of days.
