LAHORE: The administration of Pakistan Kidney and Liver Transplant Institute & Research Center (PKLI&RC) is reluctant to take an action against employees who were found guilty in sexual harassment cases, Pakistan Today has learnt.
This was revealed in a forensic examination of the PKLI&RC on Supreme Court’s directions after Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar had taken a suo motu notice over the irregularities in the institute’s affairs.
The forensic examination report has revealed that a number of sexual harassment cases were reported at the institute but no committees to decide on the cases were constituted till June 26, 2018.
According to the report, the harassment cases against the chief of pharmacy, Asif Khokar, and Board of Governors member Dr Abdul Nadir were investigated by two separate committees that had no female members. It was also observed that Khokar was found guilty by the committee but only a warning letter had been issued to him.
On the other hand, Dr Abdul Nadir continued to be a part of the institute despite several complaints against him and the fact that he was found guilty by an inquiry committee. It was recommended that he should be removed from the board of governors as well as from the institute; however, he was still working at the hospital and was recently appointed as a signatory.
The forensic examination further revealed that two written complaints were received against Human Resource (HR) Director Rashid Ghafoor as well. The inquiry committee had recommended his immediate removal as well as an independent probe into the allegations after a similar complaint was registered against Rashid at his previous workplace too.
It was also revealed that another official, Makhdoom, was also involved in multiple harassment cases but no action was recommended against him by the inquiry committee.
PKLI&RC spokesperson Taazim Qureshi told Pakistan Today that the findings of the forensic examination had been submitted to the Supreme Court. He excused from commenting over the findings while saying the matter was sub judice.
